Summer at Last!?

Today is the longest day of the year and now the days will become shorter.  This is sad, in light of the cold and rainy weather we have had so far this month.

 The land in the Interlake area is saturated and flooded in places.  The farmers in this area are frustrated, and badly need a break in the weather.

 I finally got my beautiful bike the beginning of June and have tried to ride whenever the weather permits.  

  Visits with the grandchildren are wonderful, but we have found out it is impossible to ride when they are underfoot.  

 Finally the sun has shown itself and the sky is blue!   Al and I are now training for our next adventure.  We will be spending the month of January cycling in India.  This means training until then.  I was fit for trekking, but I have to start all over again to be fit for cycling.  It never ends!!

Amantani Island, Lake Titicaca

     As with so much in Peru, words fail to describe what the eye sees.  Fortunately, I am pleased with the pictures we took.  I think they are an excellent representation of our short but memorable sty on Lake Titicaca.

Having left the Uros Islands we continued across the lake to our final destination, Amantani Island.  The day was bright and cool.  We simply could not get over the calm, crystal blue waters.

We arrived at a quaint little harbour - members of our group were quick to point out how much it resembled fishing ports in Greece.  The views simply took my breath away!

We were met by two gentlemen, residents of the island who led the way, uphill of course (the Inca Trail was good preparation as it was steep).  A little girl (maybe three years old, carrying a pail in each hand) put us all to shame as she moved smartly along - apparently indifferent to the incline!  At one point, Carlos offered to carry a pail.  She gratefully accepted.

Education is taken seriously in Peru, as you can see in the picture of  school children on their way home at the end of the day.  It was interesting to note there are no vehicles on this island,  no sound of motors or pollution.

If the harbour is quaint, so too is the town square.

After a fine lunch we were billeted out to your homestay family.

We stayed with Victor and his wife.  The following pictures best describe that beautiful home with its gardens.

After a brief rest, as it was nearing the end of the day, the group came together for the hike - another challenging walk from the town to the top of a hill called Pachamama (Mother Earth), the other hill is called Pachatata (Father Earth).

From there, in the cold air we were to see the setting sun.  Unbelievable!

And then it was back down to the town for a party!  

Dressed in authentic costumes, we danced around the fire in the courtyard of another host.

Morning came too quickly! 

It was time for breakfast prepared by our hosts.

There was just enough time for a picture with our host, his wife, and our interpreter.

Last December, friends of ours sent an email describing their wonderful adventures that year.  I can't think of a more fitting way to end this blog about Peru than by leaving you with a quote our friend had forwarded to us.

In the words of philosopher Albert Schweitzer,  "In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being.  We should all be thankful for the people who rekindle the inner spirit." 

Uros Floating Islands

     In only two short weeks, our  experience left us with a remarkable appreciation of how vastly rich and varied Peru is in landscape, history, climate and culture- from the muddy, hot trails through the Rainforest of the Tambopata Reserve, to the markets, artisans and restaurants along the steep and narrow streets of historic Cusco to the cloud forest and Inca Trail, across the Altiplano to Raqchi and the ruins of the temple of Wiracocha, and then La Raya with its views of the snow-capped Andies, and finally to Puno and Lake Titicaca, and the Uros floating Islands and a home stay on Amantani Island.

 This island is completely man-made with reeds. As are the houses and boats.

 This holiday was a profound learning experience.  But alas, Al is only human and provided great entertainment as he snored.

 The long ten hour bus ride from Cusco to Puno gave all of us a chance to doze, catch up with our travel notes and reminisce about our latest experiences including my moment of fame entertaining the group when the women of the floating island chose me to model their traditional dress.

Okay, enough with the humor!  Now on a more serious note ... education.  Particularly in these troubled times the urgency of broadening ones perspective in order to at least appreciate, if not understand the "other" cannot be overstated.  Sadly, thought and cultural sensitivity does not abound.  This could not have been more clear than in that moment  in a market at Raqchi when a woman from the U.S. picked up a hand crafted plate and asked the seller "is this microwaveable?".........

       I am no historian nor do I think I am well informed about the history of Peru, however,I intend to keep learning.  Earlier today, a friend of ours and follower of this blog sent the following link about the discovery of Machu Pichu.  (Thank-you Qurie)  It is well worth a read.

     http://www.independent.co.uk/news/wo rld/americas/so-was-the-lost-city-of-machu-picchu-ever-lost-1058004.html