Isla Del Sol (Bolivian side)Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22788647@N08/sets/72157604781112632/
Islas Flotantes - Isla de Taquile (Peru)
The altitude sun is hitting us. A wonder world is unfolding during our long walking hours on the ancient Inka roads of the Isla Del Sol.
Looking through old stone windows at the sparkling endless blue reminds me of the Greek islands. Houses made of dirt bricks wake memories of an older Hungary which I might have seen some time ago.
Familiar smells greet us at dusk on the hill overlooking the Cordillerra Real. The mountains are having a sip from the last drops of sunshine. There are smells from Provence, from Alpine mountain tops, from Africa. A feast for the senses.
Raging colors of flower bushes and large cactus colonies follow us along the road back from the island. This is just another puzzling cocktail topped by the harmonious canvas of the blue see and the vivid green of the totora. The sun in our back brings life into the canvas. A pleasure to the eye.
Totora is a fierce grass bordering the lake. It is growing all over above 4.000 meters, it is used for making roofs, much like straw in Europe. Boats are built from it, even islands on the Peruvian side of the lake by the Oru people who have been floating on them for centuries. The Orus are an ancient tribe with a mysterious past. They are said to be the descendents of the pre-Inka culture of Tiahuanaco much of whose knowledge and values were borrowed by the Inka like Romans used to borrow from Greeks. ( See pictures of the Islas flotantes)
The Isla del Sol is treating us well. Smily, kind people greeting us at each turn. Cheerful kids grab our hands escorting us without us knowing where we want to go.
The Aymara communities on the island do not get along with each other, the Challa do not really talk to the Yumani. Once again I cannot help thinking how spectacular is the inability of the different people of this continent for cooperation and understanding albeit having a common language. Once again it is here that I am reminded of the merits of the European idea beyond its material opportunities for the few. The fertile and peaceful ground of Europe for the attempts of understanding each other is being put into perspective.
Looking through old stone windows at the sparkling endless blue reminds me of the Greek islands. Houses made of dirt bricks wake memories of an older Hungary which I might have seen some time ago.
Familiar smells greet us at dusk on the hill overlooking the Cordillerra Real. The mountains are having a sip from the last drops of sunshine. There are smells from Provence, from Alpine mountain tops, from Africa. A feast for the senses.
Raging colors of flower bushes and large cactus colonies follow us along the road back from the island. This is just another puzzling cocktail topped by the harmonious canvas of the blue see and the vivid green of the totora. The sun in our back brings life into the canvas. A pleasure to the eye.
Totora is a fierce grass bordering the lake. It is growing all over above 4.000 meters, it is used for making roofs, much like straw in Europe. Boats are built from it, even islands on the Peruvian side of the lake by the Oru people who have been floating on them for centuries. The Orus are an ancient tribe with a mysterious past. They are said to be the descendents of the pre-Inka culture of Tiahuanaco much of whose knowledge and values were borrowed by the Inka like Romans used to borrow from Greeks. ( See pictures of the Islas flotantes)
The Isla del Sol is treating us well. Smily, kind people greeting us at each turn. Cheerful kids grab our hands escorting us without us knowing where we want to go.
The Aymara communities on the island do not get along with each other, the Challa do not really talk to the Yumani. Once again I cannot help thinking how spectacular is the inability of the different people of this continent for cooperation and understanding albeit having a common language. Once again it is here that I am reminded of the merits of the European idea beyond its material opportunities for the few. The fertile and peaceful ground of Europe for the attempts of understanding each other is being put into perspective.
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