Peru

A less than a fortunate border crossing, unable to meet our other friends, a robbery, a credit card eaten by the ATM machine, an illness than one by one caught all of us....this isn't exactly the way we wanted to start our leg in Peru!

Uros -floating islands

I keep thinking how many different ways of living are in this world. Such unique ways of living. We took a boat just for us to explore the islands. After a while, in front of us a "city". Small islands made of ...., no more than a few meters each, with 3-4 huts . Each cabana housed a small family. Or a couple with a child. We stopped in one to learn how this islands are made and to understand how the people here live. They take up to 1.5 years to build one small island. Most of the villagers now live from the tourists but they still collect eggs from a particular bird not only for eating but also to exchange in the markets- in the city- for other food. There is one island with a school- and another with a football field. Each island has a president- rotated every year and there is a president for all the islands. We slept in a hut,  mattress made of something like straw or bamboo with 4 lama blankets. We certainly didn't feel the cold but neither could move! In the morning we went fishing or.... trying to! The day before we laid some nets and it was time for collecting. Only 5 small fish that we could trade for 5 potatoes in the town!

Rainbow mountain (7 colours)

So hungry for real adventure and challenge. Hecti back on deck. We are ready. Started the day very early but after a mishap with Sal Solcito, where we lost our satellite dish (I wish, it just an antenna), we are ready for the hike. And what a hike it was! 8 hours, 5200 meters of altitude. Exhausted but incredible excited to arrive at the peak, to share this experience. 7 colors that was really more than 100....different ways to see the mountains and the valleys. Some horses to help us our way back, a bit into the late afternoon. Love it, love it, love it!

The "valle sagrado" journey is really beautiful and insightful at the same time. We took the time and crossed small towns so rich in archeological sense, so inspired by this landscape: Rachi, Sicuani and the great lake where we cook a full leg of ham!.I am so glad we took the time to explore all this area, in preparation for Machu Pichu