Shores of Lake Titicaca

Felt privileged wandering the shores of Lake Titicaca, about 20km out of Puno to be offered a ride by a friendly trout farmer, to see his farms out on the lake.






Women fixing the nets


Some more pics while taking in the Lake Titicaca shore outside Puno



Stock grazing on a makeshift football pitch

Puno - early morning on the shore of Lake Titicaca

Puno is the first stop on a trip ending at Cuzco from Arequipa.
Puno exists for tourism and it's main attraction, Lake Titicaca is flanked by humble farmers working the land and trout farmers plying the lake.
At 3800m above seas level, this is more than just one enormous navigable lake. It's cold nights, floating islands, vicious sun, micro-climate and lakeside communities (among many other things) make it an unusual and fascinating place to be in.
I got up early, very early to see Puno getting ready to serve the tourist hordes. I was left alone to wander as the sun came up over Titicaca and gradually the locals set themselves up to greet the gringos. Only at this time, over a period of 4 days, did I find Puno with it's guard down, sort of. It was one of the most beautiful mornings i'd had yet.

Lisa

Marco

Arequipan musician, Marco Svega at his late grandfathers place in Arequipa, Peru.

Sixta Aquima de Valencia

Sixta travelled from the Highlands to the Arequipa area and subsequently, Alto Cayma after her husband died, leaving her with little option of supporting herself in the harsh Andean environment. It is a common story in Alto Cayma, women with many children trying to survive without their spouses - their partners either dying young, falling into alcoholism or leaving.

Samuel Astacie Soto

Extreme poverty is tough enough, then you see it get harder - extreme poverty met with additional tragedy and hardship.
Samuel has 4 children, the youngest is 12 months old. He received horrific burns to most of is body when fire broke out in his small hut in Once de Mayo, Alto Cayma. He tried to rescue a small amount of money (all he had) and a gas cooking cylinder exploded in his face.
He has had three grafting operations and requires one more. He can't work.
Samuel only spends nights with his family in a borrowed shanty because frequent dust storms higher in the settlement (where they are) create big problems for his healing wounds.
I met Samuel as he lay in his daytime abode, playing with his one year old daughter, Lucero.