May 31 - Sunday, Puno!

After discovering parts of Puno last night, today we decided to seriously get the know this busy little town. Watched a huge ceremony in front of Iglesia de Juan Batista, with Peruvians marchings, school-age children , even young kindergarten children, all marching with their teachers in tow. All students were in school uniforms, and to be honest with you, the parade appreared to be in utter chaos! Parents would rush in from anywhere, just to photograph their child, as they were marching! All students tried their best to keep up, but they just could not manage. We laughed so hard... for us, we had never seen the likes of this. The kindergarten children were the cutest though, for as their parents were photographing them, these same parents had to direct the kiddies as to where to walk, how to keep step, and whom to follow. Bruce and I, along with many other onlookers, thought this was hilarious. We also took many pictures!

We still do not know what the purpose of the feast was, for even though this is Sunday, everything was done in miltary fashion. No one could really explain it to us either...

As Bruce and I walked around, we discovered lovely squares and parks, we window-shopped, and were constantly approached by ´touters´to purchase their wares, Peruvian knits from the market places. Bruce was freezing to death, so I insisted he purchase an alpaca scarf, which he did reluctantly. He´s gotten a cold, and needs to get over this before we begin our Inka Trek! Everyone knows I´m feeding him Vit. C and Cold FX, and much to my surprise, he´s taking it!

We rested this afternoon, as this high altitude is getting to us. It literally is taking the wind from our sails! This evening, we dined on trout, which this lake is famous for. The trout originally came from Canada and the US, and now lives and breeds in the cold waters of Lake Titikaka. This trout had a grassy taste to it, due to the reeds and algae that are a part of the lake. We had to try this local specialty, but we did not care much for it.

Settled in our hotel room for the evening, drinking wine, reading and writing. Due to the cold, we have a heater in our room - thank the Good Lord! The evenings really are frigid here....

An odd thing is happening to us, and we think it is due to the high altitude. Our fingers, all of them, and our toes, sometimes even our hands and feet, are tingling... It really is the strangest feeling.