Saturday 14th October 2006: PERU: Train from Puno to Cusco

The train ride from Puno to Cusco took 12 hours . Sitting on the right hand side of the train enabled us to see the many Inca ruins and stunning scenery along the route; a taster of what was to come during our week in Cusco visitng the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

Friday 13th October 2006: MORE PHOTOS: Taquile Island

Taquile Island

Friday 13th October 2006: MORE PHOTOS: Islas De Uros

Uro People

Las Islas De Uros

Friday 13th October 2006: MORE PHOTOS: Islas de Uros

How to make a floating island:

Tie the `Totora´ root together and anchor . . .

. . . make a floor with more reeds and add a reed built house

. . . And here´s one i made earlier!

Houses of the Uros Islands

Uros Island Kitchen

Thursday 12th to Saturday 14th October 2006: PERU: Puno, Islas De Uros & Taquile Island

Puno is a city that lies in the south eastern region of Peru, along the shores of Lake Titikaka. Puno is a major tourist destination for those wishing to visit the many Inca ruins of Peru and legend has it that Manco Capac (the first Inca) rose out of the the lake at Puno to found the Inca Empire.

On Friday we took a full day tour of the Uros Islands and the nearby island of Taquile. Our first stop was the Uros Islands where we met the Uros (pre-Inca) tribespeople, who originally built these islands to escape the dominance of the Incas on the mainland. The islands are made `Totora´reeds which grow in the lake. The dense root of the reeds support the island and are anchored with ropes attached to sticks that are then driven into the bottom of the lake, which at this point is approximately 20 meters. The reeds rot away quickly so new reeds are added to the top of the island every fifteen days. Each island lasts for about 30 years. The island we visited houses 7 families who work together as a community to provide food, housing, re-building etc for all residents. Each `job´is allocated to each family by the Chief of the island and works on a rota system. Food is cooked with fires made on piles of rock and toilets are provided in tiny `outhouse´ islands near the main islands. There are between 30 and 50 `floating´islands at any one time depending on how the islands are split or renewed.

The Uros Islands are Puno´s major tourist attraction and our entire visit to the islands was completely geared for the tourist (the tribespeople sang nursery rhymes in English, French and Japanese and you were constantly hassled by the kids to buy souvenirs!) which did spoil the experience a little. However, the annoyance was worth tolerating as it was very interesting observing and learning about these quite remarkable islands and the life of the Uro people.

At Taquile Island we stopped for lunch and a afternoon stroll before heading back through the Uros Islands (getting trapped in the reeds along the way!) to Puno.

Sunrise at Puno over Lake Titikaka

Welcome to Isla Chullo

The Chief of Isla Chullo with the `Totoro´reed

Demonstrating how the islands are built

Tuesday 10th to Thursday 12th October 2006: BOLIVIA: La Paz & Copacabana

We arrived in La Paz (the highest capital city in the world) at 7am on the 10th after a twelve hour bus ride from Uyuni. We spent one night in this city and did not visit the few attractions there are to see as we were so exhausted from our Salt Flats tour we did no more than go out to eat and use the internet!

Early wednesday morning we left La Paz, taking the five hour bus ride to the Copacabana, a small town which lies on the shores of Lake Titikaka, the worlds highest navigable lake at 3,810 meters. We spent one night in Copacabana, most of it sleeping (the high altitude had left us exhausted!) leaving the next day for Puno, a city on the Peruvian shores of Lake Titikaka.

Sunset at Copacabana over Lake Titikaka

The harbour at Copacabana

Monday 9th October 2006: BOLIVIAN SALT FLATS TOUR: Salvador Dali Desert

After lunch we started our return journey to Uyuni - a 600km drive across the desert. Along the way we saw some more strange rock formations known as the `Salvador Dali Desert´ and others that were shaped like animals!

At 6pm we arrived back in Uyuni. After three days in a jeep we were dusty and exhausted, but extremely happy to have experienced the most amazing sights and wonders of the Salar De Uyuni.

The Salvador Dali Desert

Camel rock

A rock window

Monday 9th October 2006: BOLIVIAN SALT FALTS TOUR: Laguna Colorada & Salvador Dali Desert

From the Laguna Verde we drove to the border with Chile to drop off the couple who were continuing their travels into Chile. From the border we drove back to Laguna Colorada (but this time from the other side which from this angle looked very differnt) and here were enjoyed our last lunch together with the group, accompanied by many Llamas!

Laguna Colorada

Lunch by Laguna Colorada . . .

. . . with Llamas for company!

Monday 9th October 2006: BOLIVIAN SALT FLATS TOUR: Thermal Baths & Laguna Verde

After the geysers we headed to the neary thermal baths were we were able to have hot bath whilst breafast was prepared. Out of our group of six, Celina was the only one to enjoy the hot baths, the other were too cold to undress! Even though it was freezing outside, after twenty minutes of soaking in the therapeutic waters Celina was well thawed after experiencing the coldest night ever!

After breakfast we headed to the Laguna Verde (Green Lake) which is only a few kilometers inside the Bolivia (on the Chile border) at 4,350 meters. The colour of the salt lake is caused by sediments containing copper minerals and the colour is exaggerated with strong winds.

Crowding at the thermal baths

Enjoying the first bath in 7 months!

The now peaceful thermal baths and its beautiful backdrop

Laguna Verde

Monday 9th October 2006: BOLIVIAN SALT FLATS TOUR: Sol De Manaña Geysers

This day we awoke at 4.30am in order to catch sunrise at the nearby "morning sun" geysers which are at the top of a volcanic crater 5,000 meters above sea level! The geysers were quite amazing but it stank of sulphur and in our half asleep state we manged to get splashed with the bubbling mud whilst taking the last picture!

Oliver pointing out the obvious geyser!

Sunday 8th October 2006: BOLIVIAN SALT FLATS TOUR: Laguna Colorada

Laguna Colorada (4,600 meters above sea level) covers an area of 60 km2. The rich red colouration is caused by the algae and plankton which thrive in the lake, the shoreline is edged with brilliant white deposits of sodium, magnesium, borax and gypsum and the lagoon is many flamingos, three species of which breed here. The lake changes colour throughout the day as the sun activates the plankton and algae causing the lagoon to glow brilliant red.

This lagoon was the last stop of the day and it was here that we spent in the night in very modest accommodation, i.e. dormitories and no showers, hot water or heating! Whilst we were waiting for dinner to be made we walked to the lookout to take these pictures. The relatively short walk to the lookout took one hour (there and back) and by the time we arrived back at the hostel we were feeling very sick and exhausted due to the incredible altitude.

The night spent by the lagoon was the coldest we have ever experienced! Even with all our clothes on, in sleeping bags with blankets, it was still cold! During winter, Laguna Colorada is the coldest place on earth after Siberia!

Laguna Colorada

Sunset at Laguna Colorada

Sunday 8th October 2006: BOLIVIAN SALT FLATS TOUR: Arbol De Piedra

We stopped here in the middle of the Siloli Desert (part of the National Reserve Eduardo Abaroa) to see this strange rock formation known as the `Stone Tree´ which was formed during the uprising of the Andes. There were also other strange rock formations but none of the others where as impressive or looked like a tree!

Arbol De Piedra

Other rock formations in the Siloli Desert