Off to Puno, Peru

Had to switch up our schedule due to flight cancellations and bus problems. We were going to go to Bolivia, then Peru, but now it’s Peru and then Bolivia. Works out to be almost the same trip but we did have to drop going to Sucre, Bolivia to make it work. Next time.

Why Puno, Peru? Not much of a town, very small and pretty humble. Most, if not all, buildings are unpainted brick or painted stucco. The streets are very narrow, single lane at best, so to help with traffic flow, they are 1-way, with a couple of exceptions. Taxis and Tuk-tuks are non-stop circling the city and honking their horns at each intersection. This does two things, one-it lets the traffic from the other street know they’re coming; and two-it lets potential passengers know they are available. Hell of a lot of noise all day and into the early night.

Tuk-tuk taxi. Holds 2 people and a driver and has the horn from a freight train!

Railroad tracks? Yep, abandoned but they are used for something.

For a little family fun, take a paddleboat out with your favorite character. 3 Soles (Peruvian dollars, about 4 to the USD)

Puno from the pier

Welcome sign for Puno in Plaza de Aramas. The 3-headed monsters are part of the Festival of the Virgin Calendaria.

More paddleboat characters.

We’re doing the hotel thing here to take a break from cooking, besides, not sure what an apartment would look like here. The Sol Plaza Hotel is billed as a 3-star hotel that includes breakfast. We have a corner room overlooking a very busy intersection so taxi watching is our pastime.

Weather here is pretty chilly, 60F, rain at night, partly cloudy during the day. But why are we here? It’s the gateway to ancient Andean ruin sites and Lake Titicaca. We just happen to have tours set up for both, that is after we acclimate a bit. The hotel is close to the lake, 15 minutes walking, and at 12, 500ish feet elevation. Doesn’t sound like much of a difference from our home which is at 10,050 feet, but it is! I guess the last 2-months of touring in South America was pretty much at sea level. Both Collette and I had to take an altitude pill to help with the dizziness. Mine went away, not sure her’s ever will. I think it’s built in.

The other use of abandoned railroad tracks, a street market

Tempting goats heads and internal parts. Too bad we just ate.

Produce market, lots, and lots of potatoes!

Ladies corner

Off tomorrow on our first tour of ancient Andean Indian sites, from farm lands to burial towers.

Mañana.