After our exhilarating, yet exhausting trek to Machu Picchu, we spent the next day resting and relaxing in the city of Cusco, Peru. We washed our dirty clothes, explored the city's little shops and ferias, and got plenty of food. After eating soup and drinking mate everyday for the sake of authenticity, we were craving some good ol' fashioned 'Merican food. We found a restaurant/lounge with some hefty hamburgers. Even though it was maybe the best hamburger we've eaten, we all still agree that nobody can make french fries like they do back home. I think it's the potatoes--nothing can beat an Idaho potato from Five Guys--but I'm a little biased.
While doing what we Americans do best--eating our oversized hamburgers and lounging on couches--we managed to make some new friends with some girls on vacation from Lima. They taught us some hip, new Peruvian slang, although I don't think we'll ever use any of it... unless we decide to pick up drinking and club-hopping as new hobbies. Not likely. Anyway, after harnessing our inner Bear Grylls on the Inca Trail, it was nice to know that we still got some game with the chicas. Or at least we think we do. |
| Little boy outside our hostal in Cusco, Peru |
We took an overnight bus to Puno, Peru, where we quickly boarded a boat tour to experience Lake Titicaca, the world's highest lake (12,500 ft above sea level). After an hour and a half in the world's slowest boat, we arrived at Las Islas Flotantes, or Floating Islands. They are made completely from reeds stacked in many, many layers. Towards the edges of the island it felt as if we were walking on a water bed, and it was astonishing to think that people had built houses and raised their families on these giant patches of floating plants. The children running around on the island seemed indifferent to the peculiarity of their circumstances. They laughed and ran around like normal children, and were happy to jump on our laps and let us take photos of them.
They told us that they even use the ends of these reeds for food. After peeling back the outside layer, the spongy inside tasted like watered down celery.
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| Justin savagely ate an entire family's dinner in this photo |
We then rode over to an actual island, Amantani, where we hiked up to the very top of the island to get a view of Lake Titicaca at sunset. Unfortunately, Derek's stomach was determined to make life miserable for him, so he wasn't able to join us. We were able to get some great shots of the lake and strike some very pensive poses, as you can see in the photo to the right. In that moment, I believe I finally was able to say the word Titicaca in my mind without giggling. Porter and Justin are undoubtedly pondering more important matters, like the vastness of the world and the purpose of life, but it was no less inspiring for me.
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| Children on the island of Amantani, playing games with tops |
We stayed that night on the island of Amantani with a local family. They made us beds and cooked lunch, dinner, and breakfast the next morning using their primitive kitchen and local, natural ingredients. The food was incredible. Very simple, yet very delicious.That night there was a party on the island celebrating the Pentecost, and our family lent us some traditional garb to wear. Their young daughter taught us how to dance (which was basically holding hands in a group and spinning in a circle while jumping up and down). We were able to master the dance fairly easily.
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| Once again, Derek's stomach didn't like the idea of dancing in circles. He couldn't join us. |
We met some great local families and also fellow travelers from around the globe. We became friends with two brothers from Germany and are now staying at the same hostal together, preparing for our bus ride tomorrow to La Paz, Bolivia.
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| View of the land on one of the islands of Lake Titicaca. |
~Dustin
Keep enjoying the trekking..
ReplyDeleteSafe travels continue, PTL
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