Is it a Life Experience?

Our landing on Uros Island was quite different to what I had expected. I guess I hadn't realised that these people construct their own islands from the reeds, decide who is going to live on each island (usually about 6 families) and how self sufficient they are.

We were greeted by a brightly dressed group of women, who quickly explained how they made and maintained the island. We ate the reeds and then they showed us their houses... within seconds it seemed we were in traditional dress and looking (and not buying their very expensive traditional weaving!)

Now that is the cynical view but I must admit to being intrigued as to how they lived. The solar power for lighting, TV etc, the focus on education - Primary & Secondary schools and many students going off for free University education, the general air of contentment but you know they lived on a tiny bit of handmade island in the middle of nowhere!

I guess if if the neighbours gave you grief you could just cut off a piece of the island and set them adrift .

My vague anxieties about where we were going to sleep that night were not allayed by the views of their reed beds in snake infested waters........beautiful but.......

So we caught a reed boat to the next island where they were preparing for the New Year's festival. The guys had been out shooting coots.... which were plucked and laid out on the ground to dry out... now how does that work? I must admit Roger and I have had some great meals but "gut rot " has been our shadow the whole trip!