Pics are coming...

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Hey, we all hve made CDs of all the pics from the trek, but I couldnt get the blog to load them... it was taking to long so no photos yet, but trust me they are worth the wait.

We, Trev, Dave, and Val... spent the last two days on 3 of the islands on Lake Titicaca. The first island was the floating islands. The islands are made of lake reeds about 1 meter thick. Almost everything that they own is constructed from the reeds as well (like there houses, boats, crafts, and they also eat some of the plant). I tried eating the reed... it doesnt taste basd but i dont think i could live on it. The culture at the floating islands has be destroy sa bit by the large amount of tourists that visit them, so there is an increase of begging and poverty, but they still seems to be a functioning society. Apparently there are more islands hidden farther from puno down channels between the reeds and these islands can only be visited by private boats. This is were where the culture has not been changed to need tourism. I wish we could have visit that area, but i am glad that some places are still hidden from the rest of world.

At the second island, we were shoed off our boat on to a dock full with locals. We were first tolded to grab a family to stay with, and we all stood there looking very confused, but apparently we were waiting for our guide to call our names and the names of the family we were going to stay with. So a women named Flora, a cute little peruvian women lead us up the rocky path to her home. This island was very different from the big citys because there wasnt any visible poverty. Everyone had land, houses and animals. A funny thing was that the gates had hings made from old soles of shoes. It is a smart idea, but it looked strange to me. We had about 30mins of free time before the family served us lunch so we went exploring... apparently we arent very good at finding paths... we ended up climbing over most rock fences... trev almost knocked one over... finally we found a path but by then it was time to turn back. the way back to the house only took 5 mins so dave and val started a game of soccer with children from the neighboring homes. It was very cute.. they got they asses kicked. I napped in the warm afternoon sun and trev wrote in his journal. After the soccer game all the little kids introduced themselves and they even signed Trev journal. It was all an exciting experience. I found that even thou they cant speak our language we could will communicate.

The families provided us with a delishes meal consisting of soup, potatoes and rice and tea. After which we were taken to the main square where we ran in to Dympna (aussie), John and Lindsay. Lindsay has ditced up for john. The three of them wanted to do the trip on their our because then the locals get more of the money. We all hiked up the hill on the island, recieved a introduction to the runes we were going to see. Everyone in our group of friends went up to the less touristy runes (mother earth), but me and trev went to both. We made it up to the Father sky runes first... then we ran down the patheway and up the other one. We made it up just in time for the sunset.

Once the sunsets, there is only about 20-30 more minutes of light so we had to quickly walk down the path. I am by far the slowest one in the group and trev is always making sure that i dont get left behind. When we were walking out the hill, i felt so tired and out of breathe... it was retarded. It felt like i hadnt been treking at all, but we were at an elevation over 4000m so that made the climb significately harder. But the amazing view was worth it because we could see the lake and in the far distance we could see the shadows of the bolivian snow capped mountains.

After we returned to the central square.. different girl led us home in the dark. We were all starving and looking forward to another home cooked meal. It is totally different to get homecooked food vs restuarant food. GUESS WHAT...
When we get to Bolivia tomorrow... we are going to look for a hostel with a kitchen because I am going to make me and trev and dave a homecooked meal... I miss cooking and the boys are looking forward to making fun of my cooking.

The night was cold and I was very tired so I stayed home after dinner. They was a little dancing thing at the central square and Dave, Trev and Val went. It was a good time and they got to dress up in tradtional clothing.

The next morning we almost missed the boat to the last island because we were waiting for breakfast. The wait was worth it. Have I mentioned that food is the best part of travelling. We got tea and pancakes at 730am. We were again lead to the boat dock by our host family. it was sad to say good bye. Once we were on the boat the cards came out... it is funny were are spending alot of time playing a variety of games at every chance we get. The other members of our tour think we are strange.

I forgot to tell you about the other members of our tour... there was a couple from Ottawa, a couple from New York, an Israli guy, 3 ppl from Quebec and another couple froim some where in the states. It was interesting to talk with the ppl from new york because they had just finished volunteering in northern Peru. I am going to look into volunteering in thalian when i go.

The last island was alot mor touristy and fully of restuarants... basically we were there to have lunch and enjoy the scenery. We played cards, but i did try the lake trout.

Once back in Puno, we tried to find somewehre to get laundry done.. but instead we had snacktime in a little cafe on the main street. Apple pie, cheesecake, and moka cake plus coffee with Baileys. I am starting to get used to snake time at 5ish and dinner at 8pm. The cake and coffee was excellent and it woke me up after my afternoon nap on the boat.

At 6 all nine of us traveling more or less together managed to all be in the stay place at the same time so we went to dinner as a fully group. That was a funny event. Becasue we had no idea where we wanted to eat and on Lima street (the central tourist street) there are ppl selling things, pple wanting to clen shoes and ppl trying to get u in their restuarant so when we stopped we were getting surrounded. Finally we ended up a at a restuarant that offered us a tradition tourist menu and free drinks. It is weird because the set meal of a soup, many course, juice and dessert is the same price as the main course. So only stupid tourist pay high prices for meals. heheh

It was alittle sad because we are spiltting up tomorrow. Me and tre and dave at going to Bolivia. Dympa is following Val to the jungle to an aminal rehab thingy. Lindsay and john are going back to Trubusos farm (horse handled from our trek) farm to look after some children and fully experience the culture. They first wanted to teach english, but it is potatoe harvesting time so the adults are all busy working in the fields so with john and lindsay there, they will be able to look after the kids and teach a little english.. Keith and Nat may come to bolivia with us but there plans are in the air.

I am going to continue to do the tourist thing and when i am in south east asia I will hopeful find something a interesting to do too.. but for now i dont have time.

So i will updata everyone on the events of day 8 of the trek... the day of traveling to puno and the 2 uneventful days in Puno.

Wish me luck ... to more we are going to bolivia who knows that is going to happen.

Luv ya