Lake Titicaca- part 2

This lake is huge! What a gorgeous boat ride to Tequila, with views of both Peru and Bolivia. The lake toggles between both countries. And yes, even the Uros people would need a passport to cross the lake between countries. Another reason to anchor your home. There are Peruvians and Bolivians on the same lake.

Tequile island is spectacular.
The roughly 2,200 Quechua-speaking residents (Taquileños) live strictly by the ancient Inca moral code: Ama sua, ama llulla, amaquela (do not steal, do not lie, do not be lazy). Due to this, the island has no police force and virtually no crime. What fine ideas!

They also use a social dress code to distinguish married men and women from single ones. Their marriage laws also follow the Inca tradition of requiring couples to live together for a minimum of 6 months to a maximum of 2 years before marriage. If the couple has not married within the 2 years, they must separate and end the relationship, as they are considered not compatible.
All of the men fish and knit. The women weave and sell handcrafts. You can tell if a man is married by the color of a unique hat worn to the side and holding coca leaves to exchange with others as a form of greeting. The single women cover their face with their black poncho, while the married women can show their faces. Also, the tassels on the ponchos are yellow and orange vs. darker red, blue, and purple.

When a woman has decided to marry her companion, she weaves a strong, wide belt for her intended that incorporates her hair to show devotion and sacrifice to her intended. The belt provides support for his back as he tills the fields, showing a cooperative system of sharing the workload. The women and men tend to the land together with the babies held on the mothers’ backs. Beautiful traditions. And very symbolic.

The primary religion is a unique blend of Catholicism and traditional Andean spiritualism (religious syncretism), which includes a great deal of respect and sanctity to Pachamama (Mother Earth) and Qutamama (Mother Water).

In the many the pictures you will see the landscape, potato harvesting, locals, yarn spinning, the marriage hat, my quinoa soup, a local demonstrating how the chukjo plant is used as a soap for cleaning everything from wool to bodies with its saponin suds, some fun stones in the walking road which traverses the island, and the peaceful animals of Tequile. And back in Puño, some shots from the local museum. The bulls are what the locals give to newlyweds to place on their roof as a symbol of protection, luck, and the couple sharing work together with strength in their new home. I am tempted to buy a pair tomorrow in Cusco, even if I am single. My home should be protected too! LOL. Lastly, I am just bragging that I made it two days and did not “touch the button”……Gorgeous and plentiful day.Read more