Our wake-up call came at 6:30 this morning and we were all down shortly thereafter for breakfast and then dressed in warm clothes and jackets as it can get cold out on the lake.
We headed for Puno Harbour
with Carlos our Puno guide giving us a few last minute information. The harbour is a busy place, but we were quickly loaded on board our boat and headed for our first stop the floating Islands. We were allowed to go up onto the top of the
boat – unfortunately Barb’s red had blew away and quickly sank in the lake. On the way Carlos described explained how the floating islands are constructed from the roots of the reeds that grow in the lake. During the wet season the mature plants begin to float with their extensive root system like a cork. These huge chunks are gathered together using synthetic rope and are then covered with layer upon layer of reeds – each layer perpendicular to the last. These are
added to every year as they are compressed together. To protect the islands from floating away
during storms, they are tethered to long wooden poles driven into the bottom of the lake. The houses are built upon a platform of reeds tied together, and the houses are completely constructed of reeds.
These islands
are home to the Uros Indian people who fled in reed boats hundreds of years ago from a tribe in Bolivia. 
Many of the homes had solar panels which they used to power their tungsten lights, radios and the occasional TV. 
After exploring the island and homes for a few minutes 
we took time for a group picture, 
then boarded a reed catamaran 
(thanks to Rostad) for
a short trip
to the second island, 
and from there back to our motorized boat.
This next leg of our journey took about an hour and a quarter, and we landed on Taquile Island, home to the Taquile People. On the pier we met a group of Quechuan children
who were on the island for a cultural exchange. We climbed up a nice steep hill (543 steps)
to a lovely restaurant overlooking the lake, 
and the mountains in Bolivia. 
We headed for Puno Harbour
with Carlos our Puno guide giving us a few last minute information. The harbour is a busy place, but we were quickly loaded on board our boat and headed for our first stop the floating Islands. We were allowed to go up onto the top of theboat – unfortunately Barb’s red had blew away and quickly sank in the lake. On the way Carlos described explained how the floating islands are constructed from the roots of the reeds that grow in the lake. During the wet season the mature plants begin to float with their extensive root system like a cork. These huge chunks are gathered together using synthetic rope and are then covered with layer upon layer of reeds – each layer perpendicular to the last. These are
added to every year as they are compressed together. To protect the islands from floating away
during storms, they are tethered to long wooden poles driven into the bottom of the lake. The houses are built upon a platform of reeds tied together, and the houses are completely constructed of reeds.
These islands
are home to the Uros Indian people who fled in reed boats hundreds of years ago from a tribe in Bolivia. 
Many of the homes had solar panels which they used to power their tungsten lights, radios and the occasional TV. 
After exploring the island and homes for a few minutes 
we took time for a group picture, 
then boarded a reed catamaran 
(thanks to Rostad) fora short trip
to the second island, 
and from there back to our motorized boat.This next leg of our journey took about an hour and a quarter, and we landed on Taquile Island, home to the Taquile People. On the pier we met a group of Quechuan children
who were on the island for a cultural exchange. We climbed up a nice steep hill (543 steps)
to a lovely restaurant overlooking the lake, 
and the mountains in Bolivia. 
Here we were served trout or an omelette and Quinoa soup. We were given a demonstration of the weaving and knitting carried 
out by the Taquile people, then were treated to two dances – one depicting planting potatoes, 
and the other involving courtship. A few Canucks joined in.
Then we were headed back to our boat and from there to our hotel.
out by the Taquile people, then were treated to two dances – one depicting planting potatoes, 
and the other involving courtship. A few Canucks joined in.
Then we were headed back to our boat and from there to our hotel. Over supper we made our formal good-byes to Jaimie, in the form of a group picture, card and shirt that we all signed. 
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