Lake Titicaca - チチカカ湖 (Peru side - ペルー側)

Lake Titicaca sits between Peru and Bolivia at 3800 meters. It's the largest high altitude lake in the world.. And it's huge!

世界でも最高地に位置する湖、チチカカ湖(標高約3800m)。湖を縦に割るようにペルーとボリビアの国境が引かれています。ペルーが約60%、ボリビアが約40%のチチカカ湖の水をそれぞれ有しているそうです。チチカカ湖畔の中心地はペルーがプノ、ボリビアがコパカバーナ。
今日初めて知ったんですが、チチカカ-Titicaca(スペイン語のスペルはTitikaka)の"チチ-titi"はケチュア語で「プーマ」、"カカ-kaka"は「岩」という意味だそうです◎

コパカバーナからは「太陽の島 "Isla del Sol"」と「月の島 "Isla del Luna"」に行く船が出ていてプノの次は太陽の島に2泊する予定です☆(ちなみにインカでは太陽"Sol" = 男性、月"Luna" = 女性を象徴していて、男性のシンボルカラーは赤、女性のシンボルカラーは黄色だそうです。)

今日はボートツアーを使ってプノの港からトトラの島で生活しているウル族の居住地へ行きました。トトラの島は彼らが作ったもので1つの島を作るのに約1年かかるそうです。しかもトトラは食べることができてちょっと味見してみましたが、シャキッとしていてりんごのようなサッパリした風味がありました。

The house behind her is her house

Many bloggers and guidebooks lament the commercialization of the floating islands of Uros. I guess there was a time when a tourist could hire a water taxi and spend the day exploring this floating world and interacting with the people who build their houses out of reeds and live their lives on the lake. Maybe those days are gone, but Uros remains an absolutely must see!!

Our tour (40 Soles) picked us up at our hostel and took us to board a slowpoke motor boat with reclining seats for 25. Our first stop was the floating isles where some of the locals greeted us and helped our guide explain how they build and maintain their small island. One couple offered us a chance to come look inside their home. They all had tables of handicrafts for sale and we did buy something, though many people did not. Then they took us out on their reed boats for a short trip to a floating snack bar. A little boy and girl accompanied us and sang kids songs in 10 languages for tips. They were really cute. Our boat ride cost us 10 Soles each. It did feel a little bit like reed Disneyland (so says lonely planet), but the islands were so unique and beautiful. I felt some authenticity there despite the impact of commercialization.

It's clear that nearly all of their income now comes from tourist dollars, and that the people of Uros have changed their way of life to adapt. But the kids now go to school and the families now have regular access to medical care, etc. There are opportunities for people to reach the islands by hiring private transportation or overnight home-stays available for people who want a more intimate interaction. Either way, keep this one on your bucket list.

▲トトラで作られたバナナのような形をしたボートとその豪華版があり豪華版の方に乗せてもらいました。一緒に乗ってきた二人の子供達が色々な言語で歌を歌ってくれて、日本語のチューリップの花を歌ってきた時はビックリ！(ちょっと歌詞違うような気がしたけど。。(^_^;)
ちなみに子供達は親が朝漁に行く時一緒に船に乗って本土の学校に行くそうです。

その後はTaquileという島に行きお昼を食べてから頂上まで行きました。頂上に行くと教会のある広場があって、島民の人たちが民族衣装を着て輪になって楽器を弾きながら踊ってました！

この島では女の人が羊毛を巻いて、男の人が刺繍されたニット帽やバッグなどを縫うそうです。ニット帽は男のひしか被らず未婚の男性は上半分が白い生地の帽子を被っていて、女の人たちは黒いショールにカラフルなボンボンがついたものを頭の上からまとっていました!

The second stop on our day-tour was the natural island of Taquile. We could see pre-Inca terraces all over the island as we approached. We ate a packed lunch then walked around the island. There was a large square at the top of the hill with a crumbling mud-brick cathedral - and the locals were putting on a big show! They were dancing in a big circle and playing pan pipes and drums. The ladies wore layered skirts and the men wore their long knit caps. The men here knit their own caps and their skill shows their status. The men with a portion of their cap left white are single while the married guys have a fully colored cap.

We finished the tour with a three hour slow ride back to Puno. (Faster boats are available for those willing to pay more.)

Beautiful blue water in Lake Titicaca

▼今日の夕飯★

野菜のクリームスープ、ラザニア、ベジタブルピザ、ビール、フレッシュパインジュース(S/.50=$19=¥1500)

Vegetable pizza - This is a "personal" size. Not for us!