Condors flying, islands floating, men sewing

Hey folks,

I'm back online and you won't be disappointed, the last three days have lots of amazing stories to offer!

Do you remember my last post? I had been in Colca Canyon and swimming in some hot springs. As I told you the next day we headed off to watch Condors flying. On the way to the viewpoint our minivan had to drag us up this huge canyon. But the long ride was absolutely worth it. In the beginning not many birds showed up but after half an hour they thought it appropriate to entertain us with the best performance they got! It was a tremendous sight watching these perfect specimen flying, at times even sort of hovering throught the air (the thermic there is fantastic). I hope you'll like the pictures, sometimes it was hard catching them on a photo as they are really fast flyers.

In the afternoon it was time to go back to Arequipa. Unfortunately, the Inka rallye came cross our way (perhaps you remember me writing about it in one of my blogs). The police had blocked the road so we had to wait for about three hours in the middle of the desert until all the drivers had passed by with their cars (some looked like tuned up taxis).

We arrived in Arequipa late in the evening and I had to go to the bus station straight away to catch my connection to Puno at lake Titicaca cause I was engaging in a tour on the latter the next day.

And what a tour it was! Our group was really international, Argentines, Italians, US-Americans, French, Ecuardorians, etc. Our first destination were the socalled Floating islands (Islas flotantes in Spanish). They are made out of seaweed and mud and are inhabited by the Uros, indigenous people speaking a special language, Aymara. Although these islands only exist for tourism these days and are shockingly commercialised it was an amazing experience (the seaweed is really soft and you feel like going on a huge layer of pillows).

Next stop was another island called Amantani, which is a natural not an artificial one with a population of four thousand people. We would spend the night there at a family. But first we climbed up a hill called Pachatata (father universe, there is a twin hill named Pachamama standing for mother earth). On top of Pachatata you can find a square sanctury only shamans are allowed to enter (they are conducting a secret ceremony with coca leaves). While we were exploring the sight a huge storm arose. Well, it didn't prevent us to stop at a little hut where the owner offered coca tea (natural medicine against altitude sickness) and picarones, little rings of flour you eat with a lot of sugar!

But the tempest didn't forget us and unleashed some of its finest lightnings on us. We hurried down to seek shelter in our host's house. By the way, they provided us with wonderful meals there, all cocked on a stone stove.

In the evening we were invited to a dance show organised by the local community. We all had to wear traditional costumes for it. Although those events are touristical and I don't really appriciate them it was really nice an evening programme. The Amantanis even tried to get us dancing (with mediocre success).

Today we visited yet another island, Taquile, which is famous for its championship in textile handcraft. Male inhabitants are sewing themselves there and wear special hats indicating their rank in society (married, single, fisherman, etc.). However, the best part of this trip wasn't the handcraft or the island itself but the view on the marvelous lake, painted in wonderful blue by the bright sky.

The way back to Puno (the main city at the lake) wasn't spectacular and before I began writing to you we had had a stroll through the small old town.

Tomorrow, I will reach my final destination, Cusco (Machu Picchu). Hold your breath, 'cause the last highlights are yet to come.

Cya!