the floating islands, lake titicaca

How about this for ingenious! These islands are made entirely from totora reeds which grow naturally in lake Titicaca. The reeds are used to construct the actual land, the houses, the boats and are home to the Uros tribe.

There are over 40 of the floating islands and they can be added to or taken away as the need arises. The islands are part of the Titicaca National Reserve, created in 1978 to preserve 37 thousand hectares of marsh reeds in the south and north sectors of Lake Titicaca.

The floating islands are on the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca and are accessed from the Peruvian city of Puno.

..... and then there's me, enjoying the local fruit and general pace of life on these islands!!

chincana, isla de sol

Here are some pictures of Chincana- a labyrinth of pre inca stone walls and tunnels.

Iisla de sol, bolivia

To the visitor, the Isla de Sol on Lake Titicaca (Bolivia) is paradise, just paradise.

The island is blessed with vast blue skies, sparkling waters, no cars and due to its altitude boasts spectacular sunsets on a daily basis. For the inhabitants however it is more difficult to earn a living from such an infertile and remote place. Despite the difficulties it was clear there was a strong sense of community on the island and also an accidental approach to sustainable living. The people have developed their own building techniques and use the donkey to get around and they are some of the happiest people i have come across. The island is at present experiencing a bit of a boom in tourism which is perhaps changing things for the islanders- at the moment this is a good thing as the money is absorbed directly into the island economy but who knows what will happen to the place in the future when the developers move in.

Lets hope they don't.

.....and at long last some men actually doing some work in this country!!!!!!

named and shamed

Officially the worst Itallian restaurant in South America.

buses of sucre

Well, these buses just had to get a mention. I mean i really loved the buses in Buenos Aires with their colourful stripes and disco numbering but these ones are miles ahead- absolutely loving them. I hate to say it but i have become a bit of a bus geek........ a bus spotter!!!

rural boliva

We arrived in Bolivia in a town called Uyuni in the South. Bolivia is the poorest of all south American countries and also the highest; we got the bus from Uyuni through to Sucre and stopped on route in a town called Potosi which is infact, at 4090m about sea level, the highest town in the world! It is also known as a mining town and was once the worlds largest producer of silver. Unfortunately though it is said that the conditions in the mines are terrible and the life expectancy of a miner is around 10 years. The town itself showed signs of its past glory but is now run down. We then continued on the bus to Sucre, a beautiful colonial city. I have included below some pictures of the rural buildings we passed on our journey.

Below: a pic outside a small town refering to Buth Cassidy- i must look this up. Is this where they had their final showdown?

Just for fun

Having fun on the salt flats of Bolivia.......

Adobe in Chile

In Chile we took the bus to a small town called San Pedro de Atacama. It is the most touristy place we have been so far and a very interesting little village. The whole village is adobe and all the buildings are at a small human scale- it is like an oasis in the middle of the Atacama Desert. All the surrounding villages are also adobe and sit well in the landscape, responding to the contours of the land. The surrounding landscape is also quite magnificent with hot springs nearby and a volcano towering over the village.

Some little sheds

Here are some buildings/ structures that are dotted around the Andes on the route from Mendoza in Argentina to Santiago de Chile. Again, due to uploading difficulties i have to just put on the ones that seem to work! (will amend post when i get to a better computer!!)

South American Landscapes

I really wanted to include some photographs of the landscapes i have encountered so far on this trip. After arriving to the lush mountainous landscape of Southern Brazil (not unlike Scotland in parts) to the vast flat planes of North- Eastern Argentina, to the staggering peaks of the Andes- i have just been astounded by the beauty and diversity of this continent..... and i´m not even part way through yet!!


Above: Landscape of Rio and South.... lush and mountainous

Above: The flat planes of Argentina where guacho culture is still alive and kicking

Above: The vineyards of Mendoza with spectacular backdrop of the Andes



Above: The journey from Mendoza to Santiago de Chile took us through the Andes

Above: And then to the lonely unforgiving planes of the Atacama Desert

Graffiti, Buenos Aires

Some street art out and about in Buenos Aries.

Bikes of Buenos Aires

Here's a taster of the bikes of Buenos Aires. They all ride around on these single speed beauties with old skool handlebars. Very cool.