"Más Alla": Welcome to Puno

Well I made it to Puno. There is not a heck of a lot to do in Puno. In fact, my travel guide to Perú says that one should not plan to stay into Puno for more than a two days. The book itself only provides enough activities to satisfy even the slowest looker for an afternoon. I would like to welcome you to Puno...day 5.

The day after our arrival, we traveled to the Floating Islands (Uros) to tour. We were put in a boat, taken 3 miles out on Lake Titicaca and met the people who infamously weaved their own land among the reeds. When they reeds very deep down rot, the people just weave new reeds on the surface to replace the old reeds. We got dropped off at an island, met the people who lived there, bought things made out of reeds and left. As far as sightseeing goes that was, by far, the most exciting thing I have done in Puno.

Monday morning I arrived bright and early, read to equip the world (ok, well the entire Puno community) with laptops. Unfortunately the town where I have been stationed is "in Puno" but at the same time- very far away from Puno. I was told (I think) to come back on Tuesday so we could go to the "very remote school that is not in Puno."

Tuesday...we went to the school. Now I thought that I had become a master of every mode of transportation since getting to Perú. Count with me now- I have managed to go by plane, train, bus (many times), horse, car, boat, motorcycle (don´t worry Mom, I wasn´t driving), and legs--the llama is coming, I promise. Well these days my commute to school every day goes something like this. Leave Puno (the city) at the crack of dawn (6:30 am). Take a taxi to a bus station where I board a bus that takes me to Ilave. This trip takes about an hour and costs a little less than 60 cents. I then get in another taxi that takes me to the second bus stop.

Let me stop here and explain that this bus is a new experience, even for me. The van probably seats (comfortably)about 12 people. I counted 20 people aboard today´s journey to Cusini. The road is unpaved and those prone to car sickness should probably fast a few days before climbing on (or hanging on...as the case may be).

So I arrive at the bus stop and sit for about 30 minutes waiting for the van to leave. Eventually, when full, the van departs down the dusty dry road. After about 6 more stops and 45 minutes later, I get close to school. The van stops and I get out and begin the 15 minute walk from the van to the school (hopefully arriving around 9ish).

Then around 12pm, I repeat the entire process backwards, hoping I do not forget a step. There is one little glitch in the plan. The last bus/van, well it does not actually have a schedule. I have been told it runs every hour, but when during that hour is anyone´s guess. Yesterday we almost missed the van. Since there is not an actually bus stop (people just stand in the street and wave), there is no way to alert the bus you are on your way. Well, we had no other options...we ran for it.

The school director kept yelling we needed to go "más alla" which translates to mean "more that-away". This seems to define our trip to Puno (or where ever we are). So we ran more that-away and more that-away and someone finally got on their bike rode up to the bus and saved us.

The picture to the left is the "bus and bus stop." I am still recovering from the run (I will blame the altitude and not the fried cheese).

The kids in Cusini are fantastic and are definitely worth the 5 hour commute. We taught (or tried to teach) them how to play four square today. I don´t think we were that successful, but perhaps I will look up how to say the word "bounce" in Spanish and maybe I will have more luck tomorrow.