Hello, my fellow wanderers!

I woke up with high energy and was ready to start my day. First, we needed to check on those who did not feel good yesterday. Everyone was doing well, so we had breakfast. I ate a watermelon and some bread; it was delicious. Lidia arrived, ready to pick us up, and brought us to Lake Titicaca for a day. I was so excited to learn how they built the floating island and how they lived on it. 

We rode the bus, and the bus driver picked up other people who would go with us; a few minutes later, we arrived at the place where we would ride the boat. We got on the boat and then waited for the boat to start on the way to Condor, the first floating island that we visited; it took us about 15 minutes to arrive there, and then one man, the tour guide, explained to us how the floating island was created. The people who live there, called Uru, showed us how to build the island, and they told us it took them 18 months to build it. Also, the island will last about 30-40 years. They used totora reeds to build and must have many layers to set up the house. Also, they told us totara can be eaten too, but we could not eat it because it contains microorganisms that will make us sick, but the locals are used to it. The island has 10 houses called Chulla and a total of 6 families, meaning 16 people live there. The lake is 900 feet deep under the island. Additionally, I noticed there are more women than men on the island because women's jobs are cooking, weaving clothes and things, and caring for kids, and men's jobs are hunting a duck, fishing to catch a fish for food, and building the house. Men will catch five different fish called catfish, killifish, trout, silverside, and amanto, which come from other countries, including some in Peru. 

Then, we went to another floating island called Uros, a coffee capitol. We stayed there very short because there was little to show us, just a coffee. We tried their local bread, and it was delicious. It was very different from the other bread we ate before. Kristen got the coffee from their local coffee shop but said she was not fond of it. Then we went on the boat and drove to another island called Taquile. It was far from the floating island, around 1-hour drive. Girls were sleeping on a boat to kill time when we arrived there. It was so much bigger than I expected! We walked to the hill to reach the house where we ate our lunch; we entered and found a seat, and then the man, the tourist, explained to us about the hat; he said that the red hat means married, and red and white means single. Also, he said if you're single, then you are considered useless, so single men will need to make the hats with the highest quality by knitting the hat to show that he is worthy of being married. Men work to knit hats, and women weave clothes or other things. Then we finished our lunch and started hiking up the huge hill. We saw a lot of sheep living there, too. Also, that island is under USECO's protection, which means other countries cannot touch it. When we stopped by the dance place and maker, the dancer showed us how to dance. When they were finished, they asked us to join and taught us how to dance. It was so enjoyable to learn about their culture and their dance. We continued walking to our boat. I felt like I couldn't take my eyes off the landscape because it was so beautiful and peaceful. I would not mind living there if I could because it's so beautiful, natural, and peaceful. Also, I wouldn't get bored living there, for real. 

On the way back to the hotel, we rested for half an hour and then went to dinner. It was so delicious! Then we walked and stopped by a store to get some snacks because tomorrow would be a long day. 

Good night, and stay curious! 

-Lani