Volleyball on the Shores of Lake Titicaca

When I visited Lake Titicaca I expected to see the famous floating islands, the fisherman, the totora reed growing abundantly throughout the water. What I didn´t expect was dressing up in native dance costume, getting funky on the dance floor with my host mom, and playing volleyball with a bunch of women farmers on the beach.

It really is all the little surprises that have made this trip such a memorable one. While the lake is massive and a beautiful deep blue, I found that the floating island communities and people that live there are so commercialized, that it takes away from the experience. You´re probably thinking, ¨Umm, Cara (tap tap), they are commercialized because of tourists like you!¨ I know...and I´ve thought more than once how ironic/sad/whatever the word is, it is that we travel around the world to see people that have preserved their unique cultures, but are suffering from great poverty...and tourism gives them the opportunity to make money, but only at the expense of the culture we paid to see! Congratulations if you´re still with me. I almost lost myself with that run-on sentence. :)

But the homestay in Llachon (a peninsula on Lake Titicaca) was really enjoyable and refreshing. We arrived in the village from Puno just as the sun was setting on the lake (ahhh, so nice). It was pretty funny because all the people in the town were walking home on the roads drunk from a long day of celebrating El Dia de Los Muertos - a holiday where the community goes to the cemetery and brings their deceased loved ones gifts of flowers, food...and lots of drinks to go around! I kind of like that tradition.

When we arrived, Virginia and I were lead to our house, which was about a 10 minute walk through dirt fields. Adela and Simion (our host family) had a really simple home, but the cutest courtyard with flowers, and the room we stayed in was very comfortable. We insisted on cooking dinner with Adela and the girls (Marielena and Marilus), which was quinua soup, and rice and veggies. Just enough to give us the fuel we´d need for our group dance. I will have to get pictures up asap, because you will die laughing when you see what I was sporting. Uh, classic! Unfortunately, we had to dance to radio music because the band was too toasted to show up. haha. It was a good time, and nice to just laugh and dance...even if I had no idea what steps I was supposed to be doing...and then my hands started to sweat profusely because I thought it was a good idea to wear my fleece jacket under my 300% wool outfit. :)

After a restful sleep we woke up and played an impromptu volleyball game with Marielena, Eliana and Fredy. It was during this game that I learned all kids cheat when playing games and that in Peru, apparently you play to 25. We then regrouped with the rest of our group and their host families, and planted a small crop of broad beans. And before we headed off to the floating islands, of course it was time for one last game of beach volleyball. All the women diving and laughing in their long wool skirts was a sight to see!