Tuesday 29 November 2011

Puno, Lago Titicaca & Islas Flotantes (Los Uros)

After crossing the border to Peru we arrived at Puno. Once you enter Peru you immediately feel the increase in living standard in comparison to Bolivia (Bolivia is the poorest country in South America). Puno is situated on the Lake Titicaca on the opposite side of Copacabana. Not much to do or see here except the floating islands (Los Uros) that have been very, very very commercialized. These islands are build of layers of the buoyant totora reeds. The floating islands were the way for native people to escape from the Spanish "conquistadores" who where enslaving the indigenous population to work in the gold and silver mines. What once was a way of pure survival, nowadays is a moneymaking tourist attraction.

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