After climbing out of the canyon, we hopped on yet another bus to get to Lake Titicaca in Puno. Lake Titicaca is considered the highest navigable lake in the world (by big boats) at 12,464 feet (approx 4000m). The obvious question is, "How big are those big boats?" The answer given is "Bigger than those little rubber rafts that you weenies haul to the top of mountains in your vain attempts to 'prove' that your piddly little puddle is the highest lake!" I looked all this up and a true "lake" must occupy at least 1.0 hectares. (not that big, eh?) Lake Titicaca is #33 on the list of highest lakes. So now you and I know the difference.

We took a tour to the floating islands of Uros. People are living on these islands made up of reeds. They have houses with solar panels and make a mint off the tourists that come to see what their lives are like. (Sorry I can´t put any pics up right now, the computer I am on doesn´t have any USB connections for me to use) From what I have read about these people, they are subsidized to live there now by the government. They offer tours in their reed boats for extra cash too.

Once we left the floating islands, we went to some real islands in the middle of the lake. We stayed with a family on Amantani Island. More of a rough BnB really because we didn´t really interact much. We were shown to a guest house where there was a table to eat at and some beds. After lunch, we made our way to the top of the island to watch the sun set over Lake Titicaca. It took a while to get to the top because climbing at 4000m is not easy. There are some Inca ruins at the top and it is said that if you run around it 3 times and make a wish, it will comes true. I´ll let you know if my wish comes true.
After dinner, our host came into the guest room with some traditional clothing for us to wear to a local "fiesta". Andrew was not too happy with getting dressed up. He only had to put on a poncho and hat. I am the one that got the full skirt, belt-like cinch, blouse and head scarf. (Again, pictures will come.) We had to at least dance one time with our host to some traditional music, pan-flute and all.
The next morning we got back on the boat and headed to Taquile Island where the people there are known for their knitting and yarn spinning. Here it is the women that spin the yarn and the men that do the knitting. Maybe I can get Andrew to knit or crochet afterall. While all the rest of the group was eating lunch, we just sat overlooking the water because we were not hungry in the least. Water is so calming for both of us.
When we got back to the main land we splurged and stayed at a really nice hotel with a bathtub, towels, soap and toilet paper. The toilet paper thing may seem a little funny to all of you but in most hostels or hotels we have stayed at, there has not been any toilet paper. We kind of knew this from our last trip so we keep some in our day packs.