LLAMA LLAMA TITICACA

we had sort of a problem deciding on today´s post´s title. there were actually a few very close contestants running for the title-title. in random order that would be:

• LLAMA LLAMA TITICACA (which should actually be Titikhakha) - we found out during the trip that the way we woudl always pronounce the name of the lake was totally wrong. In the Quechua language Titi meant PUMA(very important animal for the Inca´s beliefs). So Titicaca the way we pronounce it usually means actually puma´s poo.... hmmm... The correct pronoounciation is Titikhakha - which means grey puma

• LLAMA LLAMA VOCA LOCO (crazy cow) - since at a certain moment we were chased by a crazy cow on the Taquille island. On a 1m narrow part which had stone 1m walls on both sides. It ran away from the oner and was angrilly galloping down the mountain. And when i say a COW i actually mean somethinh with big horns in the front which kicks all over the place with its back legs. Luckily we managed to jump up some large rock just before it passed by
  

sorry, the pic couldn't have been any clearer - I was running AWAY from the beast :

• LLAMA LLAMA PEE-POT - hahha, YES, for the first time since we were likje 2 yrs old we had to use one. IT WAS SO HILARIOUS. i cant stop laughing (crying rather!) when i think about it. This was while we were staying on the island Amantani for the night at a family house. They had an "out-house" toilet outside of their little house + yard. A yard which was locked at night. And yes, according to the Murphy`s law: of course that was JUST the time we each neded to go to the toilet.

• LLAMA LLAMA POTATO - since we had an overdosis of carbs in the last 2 days - in the form of a potato. At the family house where we were staying at on the Amantani island. Haha, no wonder. Since >Peru boasts over 3000 (three thousand!) types of potato that they grown, and 20 different ones on the small Amantani island. Evertyhing contained a potato. Potato in the soup, potato with ice (!), potato stew etc. Not that it wasn´t tasty (the quinoa - Peruvian grain- soup we had there was THE best ssoup of the stay so far), but it was just a bit too much of potato for 2 days.

anyways... back to the actual trip. On the 1st day we first went by boat from Puno to the islands mader by the Uros Indians of reeds.
Titicaca lake:

Uros Islands:

reeds:

it was SO COOL: they showed us how they make them too.



Everything was of reed - the island, the boatsm, the houses etc. Such a funny thing to see. It was also funny to walk on the islands on all the reeds

Puma (titi) boat - made of reeds of course:

Later on we went further on by boat to the Amantani island.

Where our group got split up between different families. Our family consisted of a woman + her 2 daughers (of +/- 15 - Nina & 4 - Lis).

Lis:

ur host-mom:

licence of our host-mom

Lis showing us her doll:

We still dont know where her husband was. Or the husrbands of all the other host-women for that matter. We played with the little daughter a bit. Gave them the gifts we brought (apples, oranghes, rice, milk, candles, matches, sunscreen).

our host-mom in the kitchen:

We had lunch. As said above, including the best soup. All served in clay bowls.

And potatos and those funny Ocha thingies (a root looking like a yellow/red carrot). The house of the family was actually pretty horrible. Like 100+ yrs in Europe at poor families. Toilet outside, no running water, no electricity. All was cooked an a wood oven. All dirty and very basic. I cant imagine how these ppl live there like that... Our room was nothing special but visibly better than everything else.

We had 4 beds in the room. VERY basic. will put here the pics whenever i can. it was very cold there too.

The yard in our host-family's house:

We got lots of MUÑA tea (some funny herb, the tea tastes a bit like mint tea but better). by the way. our family had a guinea pig (an alive one).

They (including the 4yr old girl) were laughing so much at us gringos chasing the thing in the kitchen to take a picture of it
The host-woman coudl actually speak spanish (hha, way more than we coudl at least) - as opposed to most people tyhere who usually only speak Quechua language

Amantani host-women:

Later on we climbed up the mountain on the island with our group.

There were 2 peaks - with 2 temples. We climbed the one with the Pacha Tata [father Earth] temple.

It was quite steep at times (i´d say 60 degrees angle). it was a 45min-1h climb. It might sound like not much, but at 3800-4100m above sea level even 5 steps can let you short of breath. Not to mention that climb. Our guide was explaining things to us as well. It was really interesting. And at the top we were rewarded with a great sinset over the snow-peaked mountains and the lake. Amazing views!

Pacha Tata temple:

no electricity in our room:

Later on we got dinner at home (yes, with more potatos!), and went for a DANCE with the whole group + the villagers. All of us gringos were dressed by the families in the traditional island clothing. Chris had a red poncho.

And i had 2 skirts (yes, now i know what makes these women look so hmhm BIG - haha the 2 skirts immediately give you an impression of great child-bearing hips ). Both skirts were very thick and woolen. With (surprisingly) the underneath skirt being nicely embroided than the top one). + a funny blouse and a black shawl. So funny.
I couldnt even breathe in that (the woman tied a wide belt around my waist - REALLY tight). And trghen the dance began. It was acommpanied by the katzen-musik band "playing" on the drums and the funny south-american flutes. And then we had to dance with the villagers. Sooo funny. And so exhausting!

After the dance we went home. The way back home was funny (no electricity, and all a steep walk up along a labirynth of paths). IT WAS SOOOOO COOOLLLLLDDDD at the house. It was below zero that night (the guide said the water was freezing). ANd the window above my bed wa sbit broken and the courtain was moving in the wind... NICCCEE. I couldnt sleep at all first as i was waiting for that moment when you get a bit warmer and u fall asleep. Which never came. It must have been no more than 5 degrees in the room.

anyways. we still woke up next morning so that was a good sign.

The host families went down to the boaths to say goodbye to us:

after breakfast we went by boat to the Taquille island.

Amore developed one (a bit) but equally dirty. We saw some humming birds (collibris) on the eucalyptus trees as well. We climbed again (yes, again short of breath) - all the way to the other end of the island - where we had to descend to the port along 530+ stone steps (and no, that was not easy). It had really nice terracing and views over the lake.

Humming bird:

view on the Amantani island from Taquile:

men from the Taquile island:

this little girl got baloons from people form our group

Taquile:

After the lake trip we took a taxi (40 min) outside of Puno and went to Sillustani - an Inca burrial place - with burrial towers. It was a very nice plac, especially that we were the only people THERE actually. And we caught another great sunset. The views were amazing again