Unusual images...not always seen by the tourist!

Yes photos taken in Arequipa in the main and often showing a certain attitude carried by the photographer. But they show that not all is good for everyone in Peru.

Is it just tiredness or boredom which is expressed? Perhaps some more of the advertised products would help? On talking to this woman I found that she was a single parent trying to earn enough to bring up her three children. Needless to say I immediately felt a bit of  'deja vu' and realised that I could help by buying three dolls which could be sent to my grandchildren in USA. Every little bit helps! 

Using the trunk of a tree for carving
a form of self expression!

What does one make of this adornment? Is it the worker making a statement? 'Dear Jesus don't forget we all make a contribution and need your help!'

Food could be yours...one step at a time in each notch.

And the generosity of the government was endless...land for free ... and your choice of where you erect your home.

As well building materials and how you use them are entirely up to you.

Puno....Where? Oh you know! Lake Titikaka!

Yes all names to remember. And lives lived under incredible conditions. But survival is and making the most of what you've got is the crux of the story. Transport is not always quite what you expect on a very large mass of water. Much is made of the grasses including the image of a great beast big enough to carry all and sundry. Our guide told us how when a child he was often  sent on just such transport to and from school.

No the motorised kind had been built by his father and kept in the main running for tourists to ride across the lake to our guide's island home. An island showing all signs of a permanent home...buildings with doors and windows...bird cages...netting for catching fish...and an outdoor kitchen. TV also accessible with aerials mounted to make watching possible. As well our guide showed us around a school room which is used when required. And a solar energy source provided power.

 Lunch in the form of a large trout was brought up from the depths in a net. We couldn't see ourselves eating a whole one each although two were offered.

No limit on the types of pets surrounded us...of course we didn't see any dogs or cats...but caged birds or wading birds appeared to be of no concern.

Family members showed themselves to be very busy creating handy crafts...all for sale of course.

 Straw and mud wasn't always the building material of choice although it did dominate.
Some roofing material made of metal or tin did appear to be more reliable.

Boat handling efficiency appeared to be in-born.
I wondered if everyone could swim? A question I forgot to ask. The children made the most their 'swampy' playground.

 Rain water... a tank raised...had been put in place by an eternal optimist. I wondered how often the locals could expect it to rain.

Remember your primary school geography?

What? Where and when did you go to school? Yes it was a long...long...time ago. In fact the teacher...yes we did have a teacher and not digital you tube learning ha!...used chalk to write on the blackboard. And...and...and we had been drummed into our classroom...lining up in a single line and marching to the beat...it was at least ten years after WWII...having repeated like parrots our commitment to Australia and the Queen of England. Waste of time would you say? Yes I agree. Time Australia became a Republic but.....
So what has that to do with your present travel topic? Well I am of that age where I can't stop thinking back...to...hearing about Lake Titikaka! The largest and highest fresh water lake in the world! And...and...all of a sudden I am there. Amazing!!

On the shores of Lake Titikaka...in our hotel...and about to climb into a boat to spend some time (well, a day) on an island...with a family who spent time every year in New York, would you believe, attempting to interest New Yorkers in buying their craftwork and visiting them in their isolated existence. We had been invited for lunch and prepared ourselves for anything.

Yes lunch had been a minimalist experience. As had been their existence on this island. No running water...a visit to a spring would satisfy their need...an extensive display of handicrafts to tempt us...yet a solar panel and TV antenna...round and of an impressive size...led us to believe that their isolation was not as extensive as we had been led to believe... not to mention the solid brick house in which they lived.



Although I took photos of our lunch I wondered if .... would five different sorts of wrinkled small potatoes and chunks of cheese impress? No nor did some flour spread on concrete ... one of the brothers holding a flat stone and attempting to imitate a scene of cracking wheat to impress the tourists. But bigger and much better things were to come...on the island home of our guide. Here we couldn't believe our eyes! Things I had never heard of or imagined came our way in PUNO... see the next BLOG!

But Macchu Picchu isn't all!

Of course not! There is much more to see in Peru. Each day filled with new sights thus keeping our interest alive.

More climbing? Of course! Signs of amazing steppes planned for agriculture and designs resulting in more than adequate irrigation? Yes!

But surprise...surprise a salt mine showing that tourism is not the only income producer.

And walking through these valleys we became enchanted with our surroundings...long enough to want to take off my boots...give my cramping toes a rest...and sit to enjoy a marvelous picnic
 arranged by the guide and his staff. The children seen working on the salt mine were quickly forgotten.

Top of the world to you!!

Yes where we are does feel like that. In fact we stayed two days just so we could see Machu Pichu in all its weathers. Plus we had great ideas about climbing the smaller Pichu but then after all the walking and climbing of stairs on the first day taking shots of the incoming weather seemed to satisfy us. You've seen the early morning image before I can't resist showing it again. The heavy cloud pattern coming together with rather extreme cold. Luckily the climbing and walking soon warmed us up.

 These images show areas used for sacrifices in order to appease the GODS...the mountains being the GODS...and thus often showing shaping of the slabs of stone in their image. But how the shaping was achieved without modern-day equipment has remained a puzzle. Then again time was on their side as was the supply of labour.

The fascination of this secure and hidden area
came with the size of each slab and rock....how on earth were they brought to this site so high in the sky? The answer has come to some and they figured that to have built anything at such heights the building must have been started from the bottom up. Not bad logic! And so the most recent explorations have begun much lower down. Low enough to find signs of further stony
excavations.

Friends were everywhere...and not all paying tourists either. The Alpacas were not going to be put off finding their breakfast simply because I was pointing my camera. And then nor were the local lizards put out by my interest.




The north gate proved a good place for contemplation...perhaps prayer...or meditation or
perhaps a few days exploration down to the river and the tourist village.






The southern exit however... the fascination of the intricacy of stone works... was regarded as unsafe for the enquiring tourist and was blocked off in case of some intrepid discovery by a nosy tourist.
Click on the images to enlarge.