I have found my Shangri La

Another gorgeous morning saw us set off from Puno to explore Lake Titicaca. The 2 islands we were scheduled to visit were Taquile and Uros. Taquile is the visit I was looking forward to the most within our whole Peru adventure as it it known for its traditional lifestyle and textiles. Here only the men knit and I was able to join them for a few rows. The women spin and weave the most exquisite cloth. We were treated to a lunch cooked in the ground before heading off to Uros.

Uros is one of a 42 self fashioned floating islands on Lake Titicaca built on red beds. The reeds are cut and layered and all their structures, boats and tools are built from reeds. The island we visited houses 4 families.

On both islands, the life is simple, they grow or fish for their own food. There are no roads, cars or machinery. For transport they walk or in the case of Uros go by boat. Oxen are used to plow the fields and donkeys are the only loadbearing form of transport. These days their income is supplemented by tourism.

The only form of energy is 12 volt solar and their houses are small with small windows to keep out the cold at 4000m altitude. Speaking of which, still sick and looking forward to going to Cusco tomorrow which is 700m lower, hope it helps.