Isla Taquile

Monday November 1st.

Slept well in my Harry Potter bed. Woken up by a braying donkey. Maria made us a quick breakfast of a pancake, a bun with jam and a cup of coca tea. Then Mario led us back down to the port to meet the rest of our group and continue our tour. We waited for a while before everyone showed up, because unfortunately, Brian became very sick overnight and they think he might have an appendix problem. He walked down doubled over in pain. The three of them were put on another boat and set back to Puno.

The rest of us set out from Amantani Island to Isla Taquile, about an hour away. When we arrived we climbed another steep hill to reach the town and the community at the top. The island is beautiful, very much like a Greek island except the buildings aren't painted white. The island is all terraced for planting, probably by the Incas. The views up the walk were spectacular. Arrived in the town square where we looked around for a half hour before taking another short walk to a restaurant for lunch. Food was very good. Apparently in this community they work as a cooperative, and everything is totalled up for the whole community. They used to be a very poor farming community, but now tourism is their main industry. So, they cater to us and share the wealth amongst the whole 1000 member community.

After, lunch we walked down 500 Inca steps to the port on the other side of the island where our boat was now waiting for us to take us back to Puno. Today was a bright, sunny day and about eighteen degrees, so some of us sat up on top of the boat and enjoyed the trip. I spent most of the time talking to Jim (his wife Sheila stayed on the lower deck) from California. He is a 68 year old ex-hippie with lots of stories to tell of drug experiences, Timothy O'Leary and others, as well as interesting discussions about American politics and world policy. Made for a lively trip back.

Arrived about four and was immediately shuttled back to my hotel. Did some blog and e-mails and then went to another hotel nearby where the tour guide had told me that the Scottish group was staying. Turns out Brian went to a local private clinic in Puno, where he paid 40 soles (about $13 for an exam and 150 ($50) soles for a ultrasound! They aren't sure what is wrong, but think it might be gall stones. He has been told not to do the Inca Trail which they were supposed to do in two days time. So, the girls have to decide whether they will do it without him. He can go up by train later like my Irish friends did when they had to abort the Trek.

We decided to go out for dinner together. We also met up with an Australian couple who were on our trip as well. So, all of us went out and had a nice last dinner. The Aussies and I are headed to La Paz by bus and the Scots are flying to Cusco. End of another group.