It is absolutely pouring in La Paz at the moment. Our morning exploration of the 'Black Market' was cut short by a hail storm that came bucketing down without warning. We stood for at least half an hour in the door of a small shop, waiting for a moment to dash out to a coffee shop. The moment didn't really arrive. We were forced to make a run through torrents of water flooding the streets, collecting the garbage as it went. You definitely should not venture outside here without a raincoat. La Paz weather sucks... So as I'm trapped inside cause I don't fancy getting wet again I thought I would take a minute to update you all on our side track to the Islands of Amantani and Taquile on Lake Titicaca.
On our way down to Bolivia we made a quick pit stop in Puno, a lakeside town in Peru (the first time that I've seen water since the dirty Pacific Ocean in Lima!!). From Puno we took a boat, possibly the slowest boat in the history of mankind, for our tour of the islands. First stop was the floating islands where members of the Uros Tribe live. They were absolutely amazing! The islands and pretty much everything on them are made entirely of reeds (except for the solar power panels...) -They loved their fluro colours here. All the ladies were dressed to the nines in fluro pinks, yellows, greens. The craft they made was also, you guessed it, made up primarily of fluro colours.
Next stop was the Island of Amantani. It was a good 4 hour boat ride. It was so nice sitting out on the back of the boat as we cruised over to the Island. (I may have severely singed my legs while sitting in the sun.... It has still not gone down and is beetroot red - ouch.) On Amantani we stayed the night with a local family - Florentino and Victoria. They were absolutely gorgeous. I think I'm short. These people are tiny. And for some reason they make their doors even smaller than they are.
It was slightly awkward though. Florentino spoke only Spanish, and his wife Quechua. We had no hope in the world so there was a lot of charades but we got through. I think they found us amusing. Victoria often giggled at us. Once at Claire for ruining a wall that is probably hundreds of years old while trying to adjust her shoe, and a couple of times because we were slow in making our way down the path. (I need to add that it was pitch black, pouring, slippery, and uneven ground (a good 15m walk) with one torch.....) Victoria had no torch, was in sandals and was a good 50 yards in front of us the whole time. Hmmmm.
That night the town held a local fiesta where they took all their guests dressed in traditional clothing - hilarious! The photos are pretty feral. We have banned each other from showing anyone. Here is one of my back though so you get an idea of both the size of Victoria and what we were dressed up in..... except Mel who was dressed in traditional men's attire (consisting of a massive green embroidered poncho and beanie), because they didn't have another skirt (hahahahaha).
Will write again soon xxx
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