Today we had a long ride, yesterday we missed due to the strike 50 kilometers, so had to catch up today. Today´s ride was 110 kilometers, so that changed to a 160 kilometer ride. Overall the ride was flat, and at the end a small climb and decent into Puno, so it should be possible. In the morning it was cold, ice again on the tent, this time not on the inside of the inner tent, but on the inside of the outer tent. We have had worse at 4300 meter altitude... :o) ... Breakfast was at 6:00 because of the long day, and to give the slower people time to reach Puno in time. Some people preferred to take the truck, because Puno is located at the Titikakka lake, the highest lake in the world. Shaped like a Puma, catching some rabit ... I looked at the picture, but can´t recognize a Puma, nor a Rabit ... must be Peruvian to recognize it, I will ask my brother to have a look at it. Inside this lake are floating islands, the Uros islands Their base is made of roots of a plant, kind of cork, and on top of it they put plants which are abundant in the lake. So we left early, the weather was nice, cold but the sky was blue, and the sun started to gain strength so it would be warmer soon. The part till lunch was pretty boring, flat, no mountains, and not a lot of citys. After 80 kilometer we had a lunch stop. After lunch we continued with a group to finish the remaining 80 kilometers. In the village Juliaca we stopped for a drink. On the plaza there was a wedding going on. We were just to late to see the whole ceremony, but there was dancing and music, nice to see. Locals were interested where we were from, and where we were going. With the little Spanish I speak I tried to explain what we are doing and where we where going. After the Coke we continued to Puno, we wanted to reach the hotel in time, because at 4 pm the last boat to these floating islands would leave, and some of us wanted to visit these islands. There was wind comming from everywhere, front, back, sides, and also the wind was sometimes gone. The climb at the end was ok, I was of cause the slowest climber, but the rest waited for me, before we started the decent into Puno. During the decent Jurgen tried to read the map with one hand, and going downhill at the same time... not smart, and a small bump that normally is no problem, smacked him against the ground. No sirious injuries, his bike was a bit damaged, but Filip should be able to get it fixed. After getting him into a taxi, and explaining the name of the hotel, we followed the taxi to the hotel. We arrived at the hotel around two o´clock, so we had planty of time to do some shopping, and get ready for the boat that left at 4 pm. The islands were nice, but extreamly touristic. It was just like a floating market, but nice to see. It is almost unbelievable how these people can live here, if they still live here. Maybe they are just here for the tourists, to show how it was long time ago, when people really lived on these islands. Maybe they still live like this, it is hard to tell. Anyway, we have seen it, and got back at the hotel at 6 pm. After some dinner, and some walking and shopping for water, we went back to the hotel and got some sleep, it has been a busy and tiring day. My head was still glowing because of the intense sun at this height. I put on sunblock, but even factor 50 didn´t prevent that at the end of the day the face is red, not burned fortunately... Tomorrow again a 145 kilometers, and we are going into Bolivia ... new country, new people ... Adios Peru, muchas gracias!!

Adios ...