For today we have rented our own driver and private tour guide to take us down South along the Titicaca Lake to visit three different sites.
The first stop was Chucuito. There is a small Inca temple to honor the gods of fertility, which is called "Templo de la Fertilitad" (in Inca Uyo). Actually there is not really that much to see, lots of phallus symbols and the authenticity and location of the objects is of debate. The village however is very beautiful and has a very cute Plaza des Armas (main square).
On our way we also stopped at a rock formation which was used to bath the feet of traveling Inca warriors. Our last stop was in Juli (80 km south of Puno). We got really lucky because there was a huge fiesta on the mountain close by to celebrate St. Bartholomeus. Indigenous people traveled from very far away to attend, there were many costumes, native clothing, marching bands with huge tubas and little stands everywhere selling everything from food to drinks to little icons (money, houses, cars, babies etc.), which people take home believing that after one year they would turn into the "real thing" and they would have babies, houses, money or a new car.
There was also a small little church which seemed to be on fire inside, flames shooting up at the side walls (which were kind of arched) almost touching the ceiling. Many, many people tried to get in and light candles there, form e it was simply too many people. Some people objected to have their pictures taken, so I just held the camera at my hip and took random shots. Back in Juli we tried to look at the 4 churches in town , but none were open and one of them (Santa Cruz) needed a lot of work quickly to be preserved.
On our way backHenry our driver was speeding like Michael Schumacher and we were back in town around 2:30 pm. A short stop at the hotel and then we hiked to the viewing point (mirrador) with the Condor statue, a steep walk uphill, with 617 steps. Great views of Puno and the lake.
Later that day we had tea at "Casa del Corregidor", a very cute little coffee house in an old building of the 17th century. Actually one of the few really old buildings to see in Puno.
In the evening we had dinner at "La Caywa", it was ok, the food could have been a little better fort e price, the service was not the best either. In general it seems that the people in Puno have not really discovered what good the tourism could do fort he city.
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