Lake Titicaca

Our friend joined us in Arequipa and we began the last leg of our journey.  We began by taking a bus to Puno, a small city on the southern border of Peru where lake Titicaca is located.  Lake Titicaca is the largest lake in the world at it's elevation; sitting at 12,500 feet above sea level.  It's also the largest lake in South America and, in my opinion, is the lake with the silliest name in the world!  The lake creates the border between Peru and Bolivia with each country claiming half, and it's common that Bolivians will say that they have the "titi" and Peru has the "caca".  We took day boat trip on the lake and visited the Oros Islas and Tequilla island.

The Oros Islas are a group of 44 artificial islands made of floating reeds.  The original purpose was defensive because when the Spanish conquered Peru, people in Puno created these islas so that they could be moved at any time if a threat arose.  Many people still live on them today and maintain a very traditional way of life (well, except for the solar panels with which they get electricity and can run their televisions ;)  It was a very "touristy" experience but was amazing none-the-less.