Souvenirs
Eliana welcomed us not only into her home, but also her culture. When the boat was making its way to pick us up, it was time for her to show us a variety of handmade souvenirs we could purchase from her family. We purchased a handmade reed boat souvenir (which our dog Trudy promptly destroyed when we got home… if you are reading this and heading to Lake Titicaca soon, grab one for me, will ya?)
Romantic Boat Ride
In addition to the small reed boat, we also paid to take a “Romantic Boat Ride.” As a thank you for paying for the boat ride, Eliana and her sisters treated us to a song. They sang in Aymara, Quechua, English, and French!
The boat we arrived on left without us and we awaited the arrival of the romantic boat. This unique vessel was made from two of the original reed boats they used to live on centuries ago, combined into a catamaran. The boats are shaped like pumas (an important Incan symbol). The boat even had a cabin, though we chose to ride on top. The islanders cleverly use plastic bottles left behind by tourists as extra flotation, repurposing trash into something useful.
Origin of “Romantic Boats”
The name “Romantic Boat” comes from its role in island tradition. When teenagers begin courting, they go on dates aboard these very boats. With a mischievous smile, Eliana shared a joke William translated for us: “They leave as two and return as three!”
Regrouping on Main Reed Island
We met up with the rest of our tour group on a large main reed island. It was huge! It even had a working bathroom! It was crazy to see the modern comforts these people enjoy living on these islands. Eliana herself even had a radio they power with solar panels.
Our short visit was unforgettable, and the Romantic Boat Ride was the perfect finale to our experience visiting the Floating Islands of Uros. But our day touring Lake Titicaca wasn’t over yet – now we embarked towards the Island of Taquile!
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