Monday, December 11, 2006

Isle Del Sol







Went on a day tour of Isle Del Sol (Island of the Sun) out in Lake Titicaca. Was a cold trip out, but very sunny once we got there. Did an hour´s trek to the ruins where the Adam and Eve of the Inca´s happened. Emily is pictured in front of them - you can see the Islands rising out of the Lake.


Then we headed to the South of the island and walked up hundreds of stairs to the very top to get some amazing views of the Lake. Lago Titicaca is one of the largest and highest lakes in the World, over 8000 squre kms. We learnt the importance of sunscreen at altitude - all of us got very burnt faces and heads, we´re still feeling the effects a week later!


Next day we said Chao Bolivia, Hola Peru! and got on a bus and headed to Puno, Peru, also on Lake Titicaca. We went on a morning´s boat tour to the Floating Islands, where in the shallow part of the lake, people live on islands made entirely of the reeds that grow in the Lake. They´re anchored by rocks attached with string and all the families that live on them sleep in huts also made of reeds. It was incredible to see them and learn about how they live - the Islands only last 20 years before they disintergrate and it takes 5 months to make a new one. They get around the islands on these amazing boats (also made of reeds!) that we took a ride on, see picture.


Next stop was an addition to the itinery, due to the extra time created by not going to the jungle. We headed to Arequipa, in Southern Peru. It is surrounded by volcanoes and is made almost exclusively of white limestone. We visited the Santa Cantalina Convent, made in 1540´s, it was closed to the public for over 400 years and the nuns lived in total seclusion in this huge monastry, over 2 hectares in the middle of the city. It was opened in 1970 and now the nuns live in a little portion in a corner, still in total seclusion. Then we went to the Museo Santuarios Andinos, where the frozen Inca mummies are held. We went on a guided tour where we learnt about the Inca ritual of child sacrifice to appease the mountain gods. Juanita is the most famous mummy found because she is perfectly preserved from being frozen (others have been damaged by lightening). We saw artifacts that have been found by archeologists, adn then at the end, actually got to see Juanita herself, in a special glass case that has been made to keep her at the perfect temperature and humidity for preservation.


Next day headed on a 2 day tour of the Colca Canyon - the 2nd deepest canyon in the world (twice as deep as the Grand Canyon). We stopped in little villages along the way and visited some hot pools. In the evening, there was a massive festival going on in the town, everyone wearing tradional dress and dancing around the Plaza de Armas to bands playing a little repetitive song. It was awsome to watch for awhile, but got kind of tedious after a few times around the Plaza! It was their annual celebration of the different buildings in the town, and families put on free food and alcohol and the whole town parties for 3 days.


Next morning, we headed into the canyon for a spot of condor watching. We saw 2. Unfortunately they weren´t too keen on putting on a massive show for us, but we did get to see how majestic they look in flight.


We arrived this morning in Cusco on the overnight bus (our last long bus trip!), it´s a cool city, but very touristy. Been busy organising things to do ... more soon!


Chao for now.


ps, Happy Birthday Bruno! love emily.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

thanks from bruno,