Lake titicaca and Inca trail!

hello!
since my last entry i have been up to quite a lot but i will try and keep it brief ;o)

From Lima i went with a group of 15 to Puno where you reach the peruvian side of lake titicaca (the worlds largest navigable lake!)
We went by boat to one of the islands on the lake which is 3860 metres above sea level! the altitude made 3 people in our group really unwell but i only had a slight headache (phew) and shortness of breath!

There we learnt about the tribes way of life and most amusingly that the men wear different knitted hats when they are single to when they are married! and all the men on the island knit whilst the women weave!!

We then took a boat ride to another island where we met our ´mama´s´ who were going to take us in for the night! we hiked uphill which was tough in the high altitude! also amusingly we had a fiesta in the evening where we wore the womens local clothes....(i lost my memory card but will try and get photos to send off another group member!) and learnt their dances!

i also bought my touristy hat made from alpaca which ties up with flaps over your ears...it is not my most attractive look but it sure is good in peru!
The weather on the islands is really unpredictable and in the night there was an enormous storm!

The next day we went to another island made completly from reeds! the people sometimes find when it is windy that their islands have moved and theyhave to use boats and sticks to move it back he he!!

From Lake Titicaca we went on to Cusco and Ollantaytambo where you can see the sacred valley and begin the Ínca trail!
The coolest thing about the sacred valley is that the spaniards were not able to destroy and rebuild it (unlike the rest of Peru...) so you can still see lots of original Inca architecture!

The inca trail was pretty hardcore!! we spent six hours walking up 4800 metres above sea level!! and the camping was hilarious as as soon as it got dark all the girls were meeting in groups to make trecherous journeys to the loo!!
It took four days and was pretty rainy but amazing all the same! i had to wear a very fetching waterproof poncho! the sense of acheivement after completing it was imense and we treated ourselves to the hot springs the following afternoon!

i am off the jungle tomorrow for 4 days (eeek!!) but will be updating this thing with photos and more detail (if you have the patience...!) when i get back to buenos aires!!!

hope all is good in whichever part of the world you are!!
lots of love
emz x x x x