The Andian Plateau, Cuzco to Puno

Firstly last nights anticipated dinner, what a blast. A small cafe/resturant almost next to the hotel, we arrived and thought we were the only ones there but it turned out that there was another group about our size(10) upstairs. They could obviously only handle one group at a time and the other group got there first. Despite the inevitable slow service and the fact we had drunk all the wine before the food was served we all had a good time.

A sensible start tiime this morning and the train left at 8.00am arriving at Puno at 6.00pm.

Again the landscape not as expected, generally arid and treeless. Doted with small tenancy farms which appeared to be barely subsistance.

The towns and cities also appeared to be poor with the predominant building material everywhere adobe. In the usual South Qamerican tradition most of the buildings were incompleted and today we saw many abandoned.

We climbed from 3,400 metres to 4,300 before coming down to 3,800m here at Puno, with neither Michele or I really feeling too much altitude effect (light headed at times).

The train was in orient express style and we were “first class”. We found the journey interesting and restful and really enjoyed ourselves. The sourpusses in the group however found it boring, you cant please everybody¨!

The terain in the valley was flat and for a good part of the day the mountains either side more rounded than we have previously experienced.

Passed through some interesting towns and villages not the least of which was the city of Juliaca. It is some 40 k from Puna and is the location of the regional airport. Either side of the train tracks for several kilometres, was market like with stalls (blankets laid out on the ground) selling every thing imaginable from food, coca leaves, second hand car parts and plumbing gear, clothes, billiard tables, and any other assorted junk. It was certainly a local market not a toruist market.

The hotel here is somewhat unique, located on a small island or ithmus into the lake and is the only 5 star one around. It was dark when we arrived and we will get a better look around in the morning.

Two days here so tonight is a washing night, to which we must now give our full attention to!
Hasta la Vista Amigos