Pacha Suite Puno Peru, Puno, PeruOctober 14, Monday
Having spent the day bumming around Cusco, a city whose streets now felt like old stomping grounds to us, when we boarded our overnight bus and said good bye to this brilliantly beautiful city, we felt like we had really gotten to know the place.
We arrived in Puno at 5 am and once again were truly appreciative of being able to check into our hostel straight away. We caught a few hours sleep, straightened ourselves up and went out exploring.
Puno is a busy city but it is far from pretty. There is very little colour here. The dull brown bricks of each building blends into the dusty beige foothills that rise up, embracing 180 degrees of the city, with the remainder, spilling onto the shores of Lake Titicaca.
Lake Titicaca is the largest fresh water lake in South America and the highest of the world’s largest lakes...more about Titicaca later.
Many roads in Puno are in upheaval with dirt road meeting pavement in unlikely and confusing patterns. Small fruit stands spend their days selling produce, in front of tired lifeless buildings whose doors are closed and windows guarded with iron.
The streets are narrow and overcrowded with buildings arranged in a higgledy-piggledy manner. Most building, three or four stories high; all with rebar sprouting out of their roofs, ambitiously awaiting another floor.
People here all seem to be busy, working; going about their daily grind, many looking as weathered as the city. People are courteous, helpful and hard working.
We eventually found our way to a local market where we stocked up on nuts and dried fruit for a 2 day tour we had planned, starting tomorrow.
The market ladies were enthusiastic about our presence as this was a local market and clearly not frequented by foreigners. Markets here are not like those in Asia where we were accustomed to haggling and people running after us with their “rock bottom price” as we walked away. Here, the price is the price and if you don’t like it, you are welcome to keep on moving.
After wandering the streets for most of the day, we finally found our way back to the hostel, packed our day bags for our overnight trip on Lake Titicaca and called it an early night.
Pam Seath
2019-10-22
Your fantastic way with words makes this an amazing journey to follow.
Lee Anne
2019-10-23
Loving this... ❤❤
Agnes Penton
2019-10-23
Can’t wait to hear of Lake Titicaca.
Aunt Madeline
2019-11-02
I can see what you are saying regarding bartering in a bigger city. Country folk don't want to lose a deal because they are counting on every penny, so to say plus I would think they totally count on the tourists that come through. What an awesome experience you are having. Your blogs are like reading a book.