Lake Titikaka

Lake Titikaka is higest naviagable lake in the world. On the bus we sang happy birthday to Mimi, Randy and anybody else who had a birthday in the near future.

Lake Titikaka is a man made floating  islands made of reeds and has temperatures between 47-50 degrees. The natives fish for trout and kingfish. The lake is 1/3 the size of Lake Superior. We are 12000 ft elevation. Hills are 22000 ft. 

There are 2000 people on the islands, no tax and no regulations. 

Posing on the reeds. 

People eat the reeds that the islands consists of—the taste is somewhere between cucumber and celery. 

I climbed all the way to the top to the observation tower for a great view. 

So did Randy!  

Since the island is made from reeds that rot away, every 3rd week they add another layer of reeds.

The solar panel is used for TV cell phones  and lights. It was neccessary to lift up the houses to add more reeds once a year. Before the occupants of the island marry they live together—Living together is accepted on the islands. 

The reed root is natural compost for farming.

After putting on a show for us, we were shown their huts and asked if we wanted to try on the dresses they wore. 

Most of us said no to trying on the clothes.

Later Mimi surprised us by coming out in the native dress   Wasington surprised Mimi with a Birthday cake and we all sang Happy Birthday to her once again.

Mimi and Pit in a Kodak moment. 

Some opted for a boat ride in a reed boat made especially for the tourists. 

After our tour of the floating islands we took a taxi to the Liberator Hotel to find the monument to James Orton, an explore and relative of the Jacobs family who died in 1870. The first the person we talked to didn't know if the monument was there, but a lady, the owner of the hotel, came up and said it was. She arranged for someone to take us to the monument spot. After many steps huffing amd puffing all the way ......Eureka!

A view of Lake Titikaka and Puno from the James Orton monument. 

The Hotel and our guide to the monument. After finding the monument and having lunch we decided on relaxing for the rest of the day. Our flight to Lima tomorrow will require a 5:30 wake up call.   We will have a final dinner an head home early (4:40 am) on the third. It has been a great trip!!