My next stop is Puno and lake Titicaca., 3800m above see level. It's supposed to be highest positioned large lake in the world. I arrived to Puno by eight hours bus ride from Cuzco (15 sol, 5 usd, 110 czk) on Tuesday. I was impressed by quite diversity of the people on the bus. From fashion people having the latest smartphones, thru old lady which sat next to me and was studying some school to poor ladies with their huge peruan carry bags. The bus ride took little bit longer and many people left the bus on the way. It started to be little bit scary. There were like 5 people left on the bus. The surrounding was getting poorer and night hit the sky. I had feeling like it's way to the hell. Without no accommodation managed in Puno. It was 8 pm already. But things turned easy. I took taxi for 3 sol (1 usd, 20 czk) to random hostel. They gave me private room for 30 sol (9 usd, 220 czk). They had this fancy shower I use to see in poorest hostels where there is a small machine smaller than kettle and water tube and electricity cable coming in :-)
In general taxi here is very cheap. Ride around the city costs 3-5 sol (1-2 usd, 20-40 czk). Sometimes 6 :-) I remember taxi driver taking me from bus terminal located little outside of the city. I asked for 5 sol to city center. And he started to bargain for 6 as he has to pay parking at bus terminal. I started to play the game for fun, but gave up after half minute or so. Poor guy :-)
I did a small walk around city, took dinner (soup, chicken with rice and tee) for 3 sol, checked hairdresser place where I might go later, did small shopping and fall asleep. The nights are very cold here going down to 0.
Next day I packed my stuff and went to bus terminal again to look around for some tours on the islands. I booked 2 days one night one for 90 sol (30usd, 700 czk) with sleeping within local family. We departed within a hour with group of 25 people. First we visited the reed floating islands where some of the local people live. There is around 120 of such islands on lake Titicaca.
Then we went further to Amantani island to meat our families. There lives around thousand of families who are welcoming hosts to their houses. Each family can take around 10 visitors a year to keep the authenticity. And I must say I was very surprised with their hostility and authenticity. I joined the house of two sisters - 22 years old Lordes and 18 years old Celia. And I was together with 3 Argentinian visitors. We were served the launch consisting of very good soup and mix of vegetables and cheese. The one of the vegetables which looking like a worm is called oka and it's some kind of potato. After a talk and short siesta we went up to the hill to see the sunset. I met Slovak girl Jana who is travelling central and south america for 13 months already. Followed by dinner consisting of tasty soup and second course which was fried potatoes with rice. Also enjoying this time with sister's parents.
There was also a small party for all families hosting visitors that night. So we danced with Silvia, Jana and another cute Brazil girl called Laila.
Btw there is nearly no electricity. Only basic lights powered by solar panels. Temperature during night was subzero. Next day we took a breakfast and left the island for another island called Taquile. Nothing special what we didn't saw at Amantani island. Now chilling and hostel in Puno and looking forward for another journey to La Paz.
Update: We went for couple of fancy molecularly drinks that night and ended up in local discotheque. It was full of very drunk guys. And I felt like a boss with two girls. Liter bowl of coke with rum was 10 sol (3 usd, 70 czk). The places smelled terrible but it was so easy to get drunk and forget. We danced with group of local people till 3am. Felt little strange to be invited for a 10 sol drink from local people if that many doesn't mean anything to me but it's a lot for them. It was a great fun ;-)
See ya
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