The inside of the Church

As night falls, this native Lady, her son, and her llama wait for John to join them in a photo (for a small fee, that is:>

Back on board The Andean Explorer

Early to bed to rise even earlier to capture a magnificent sunrise

The town slowly wakes up, too, as we continue by boat to Lake Titicaca

Yes, there really is a Lake Titicaca...

And the Uros Islands were literally created to float on it

The natives, known as "URU," are there to greet us

They are a particular ethnic group that co-existed in Lake Titicaca with the Inkas, Aymaras, and possibly older civilizations

They are also there to explain how the land on which their home floats...

...and how their homes are constructed out of mud and reeds. There is no minimizing the skill employed without the use of any tools we would recognize

As the men explain, the women (and children) work on the crafts we will be tempted to buy...

...such as this boat which John and I DID buy...

Then again, why NOT buy a replica?

John and I wind up in the stern and  ride it across the lake to Taquile Island

The natives wave, "Good bye"...

As we get a panoramic view of their floating community (which has added a solar panel to the skyline...)

Jeff peers over the side of the boat...in near disbelief as to where John and I are seated

We really couldn't believe it ourselves...and laughed all the way to our next stop

This Island is known for the hand woven textiles and clothing, regarded as among the highest-quality handicrafts in Peru.  Knitting is exclusively done by males, starting at age eight

Following a photo op taken with a Hat Ladies t-shirt (and Lake Titicaca and Boliva in the background), we enjoy lunch at a local restaurant

We capture Jeff and Joan making their careful...

...and thoughtful way back to our waiting boat

And we capture the views of the daily life from our train window...

..carrying us to our next City:  Arequipa