Pachamama.

Lake Titicaca is where I felt the real Peru. The lake itself is magnificent. The lake and the sky are like one, there seems to be a meeting between heaven and earth. At Lake Titicaca you feel far away from anything harmful, it is totally isolated and pure. A place where you are surprised by natural beauty everywhere you turn. Here you really feel the presence of Pachamama, mother earth in Quechua, (the indigenous language spoken in Peru). Pachamama is revered here and her power seems astounding when surrounded by nothing but beautiful scenery. Pachamama is a hard lady to get to know in the urban jungles of the world, but being at Lake Titicaca I understood her magnitude and greatness. There I became a true believer in the idea of Mother Earth, or Pachamama.
We went to a small island off the coast of the mainland in lake Titicaca called Amantani. We took a three hour colorful boat ride filled to the brim with local people, fruit,vegetables, crates of other necessary supplies, and two fricking sheep! After a hellish ride, where we were on the brink of capsizing more than once, we finally arrived to Amantani.

This was a place so peaceful, so serene, it felt like being in an alternate universe when juxtaposed to the hustle and bustle, and grime of other parts of Peru. Amantani has about 800 families living on the island, and the people on the island live a communal type lifestyle. The motto on the island of Amantani is "hoy para ti, manana para mi." This means today for you, tomorrow for me. This motto of giving for your neighbors, is really exemplified on the island. Life here is simple but happy, the people on the island greet everyone they meet with a smile and seem very content. They have electricity on the island powered by generators for only a few hours a day. On the island they grow most of the food they eat and keep small farm animals for milk and other resources.

We stayed for one night in a traditional adobe house with: Ygnacio Suly an man from Amantani, his wife and their four beautiful children. This idyllic place was where I felt and learned the most about Indigenous Peruvian culture and their family relationships. Here the people of Amantani speak Quechua, and for the most part, live simple lives staying true to their traditions and culture. The people of the island made such an effort to show their hospitality and congenial nature, I was immediately astounded by their openness. I felt very much at home with the Amantani villagers, they did not have much materially but, were more than generous with what little they had. At night we went to the villages small community center and had the privilege of dancing with the women of the community and other tourists. It was only one day but, I felt really connected to the people of the island and I will never forget their charm, positive outlook and hospitality. It was a day where I felt closer than ever to good ole Pachamama and her peeps.