The Reeds

I think I told you that I didn`t end up staying with a family on the island because the leader thought that the hike up the mountain with the altitude would be too much for me. Every time I walk up anywhere, I really get out of breath.
I did visit some floating islands with another group that was arranged for me. Uros people have made boats from special reeds for centuries and then they just kept tying them up together until they formed floating islands which they live on. The reed is used for everything...they even eat it.

In the afternoon, I went with a group on another tour to see some ancient burial grounds about 45 minutes by car from Puno. We had to walk up a mountain again, but this time it wasn`t so steep. However, it started to rain, pour and there was thunder and lightening as we wallked around the ruins from pre-Inca times. It was very dramatic. Then the driver of the van couldn't see out of the window because the defroster wasn't working, so I had to keep wiping the windshield )I was sitting up front). It really was quite the storm. Huge hail stones came down and we arrived at the hotel and it was like freezing rain, so slippery. We were all soaked to the skin and no where to dry off. There is no heat, hair dryer or dryer in this hotel.

Some of my things are now dry. We are going by bus to Cuzco (7.5) hours in a few minutes.