Whatever Floats Your Home

Today we visited the Uros Islands in Lake Titicaca that straddles the border between Peru and Bolivia and met five families on one island. There are now 87 islands with 4,600 inhabitants and three elementary schools – all floating on rafts of reed roots covered with layers of reeds.

This island lifestyle started as a defensive strategy against the Inca as the islands could be detached and moved. This did not stop the Uro people who intermarried and merged with the Aymara from being conquered and enslaved by the Spanish. Today about half their income comes from sharing their stories and lives with tourists but they mainly commute to school and jobs on the “mainland” in Puno.

Photos: Jim Hyde getting lots of help from Miguelito flying the drone to film the islands – a demonstration of how the islands are built and the political hierarchy of the island from the president of this island – fresh reeds and fresh water being delivered (the lady delivering the water was not pleased to be photographed as she was breast feeding whilst driving) – one of the ladies doing embroidery for sale – tired visitors returning home.