Puno

We arrive in Puno and it has to be the coldest place so far.
We get a taxi to our hostel - the PUMA backpackers hostel.....not quite what we expected...

The hostel was colder than outside!!
After the coldest night in history within 4 walls (despite 6 blankets and sleeping fully clothed), we decided sunshine was in order and headed down to the harbour of Lake Titicaca to catch a local boat ride to the famous floating Islands of Uros.

We could have gone with a tour company but thought this way we could give money directly to the locals and it would be less touristy....wrong again!!!!
Lake titicaca..

Our old ricketty boat took 30 mins to reach the floating islands...

The Floating Islands are made completely of reeds and the people that live on them supposedly are self sufficient and donot need the main land.


We were then given a full history and explanantion of how the people on the floating islands live...... in spanish!!

The locals took us for a ride on one of there boats completely made from straw, where 2 not so angelic girls sang to us and at the end of the 15min ride demanded payment for the ride and tips for the delightful singing - so completely put on for tourists!!

After another freezing night, i mean the people who owned the hostel were even in puffa jackets, wooly hats and blankets inside.. we promptly headed to catch our VIP bus to cross the border into boliva.

Unfortunatley in true Peru style our VIP bus (VIP seats that reclined into beds) was cancelled and without explanation or apology we were hurded onto a minivan!!