A sunny day in Puno, Peru and the Lake Titicaca experience

After an unforgettable bus ride of almost eight hours from Cusco to Puno, I arrived safely at my hotel. I was almost at the end of my trip to Peru and I couldn’t wait to go home, but not before I see the locals who live on water on small artificial islands, handmade from a plant called totora reeds which has multiple uses including teeth whitening.

While trying to sleep, feeling bad for the past three years I had wasted and hating the fact that I still can’t make a decision of whether to keep contact with a man that was not worth my attention, I realized that I was short of breath. It was not because of my regrets, but it had something to do with the place. I was lying in bed, the windows were open, I had also
opened the door, yet I felt suffocation. My lips, hands and feet were tingling with a sensation of numbness. I immediately remembered that it was because of the high altitude Puno was located on. It was at 3860 m (12420 ft) which you might think is not a lot, but it is weird how your body reacts to an altitude it is not used to. The locals here use a plant called mate to breathe better. The plant is illegal in a lot of countries because it is considered a drug, but in Puno it is in daily use. A hot shower helped me relax and I fell asleep.

Next day while walking through the small deck in a cold, yet sunny day, waiting for the boat ride through the Lake Titicaca village, I finally got the courage to see things clearly on this painful love story that I carried on my shoulders. With a smile of satisfaction on my face, I noticed a gentleman stalking me with his eyes, a bit taller than me and maybe in his late thirties. Perhaps it was because he saw me struggle with my Spanish while trying to communicate, I thought to myself.

He immediately jumped in and helped me out. I was impressed by his perfect English and politeness. He introduced himself and started talking to me. In the next ten minutes while waiting on the deck, he gave me a lot of information about himself and his trip; I didn’t see all that information coming to be honest. I guess he had been lonely for the entire road trip of two months on his bike and wanted someone to talk to.

While travelling through the Uros islands of Lake Titicaca, he was always next to me, of course keeping his distance but helping me like a gentleman to get on and off the boat and other small things that men do to impress women or simply because they are well mannered.

Since he was a professional photographer, he wanted to take a picture of me and my hat. My hat was an attraction in Peru, so much so that the locals wanted to make hats like mine and make a lot of money selling them.

The sunny day mixed with cold winds somehow made me feel relaxed and enjoy the new company I got for the trip. He opened my eyes and made me think how a man should treat a woman. He made me feel important and realize how much I was missing in my life.

After the trip ended, he asked me if I would like to have lunch with him in an hour at some pizza place nearby. I was happy that at least I got some company to eat with and someone who could translate the menu for me so I don’t end up eating rats like I once did.

There were several houses in Peru that were left unfinished due to tax issues. Walking through them gave a very unsafe feeling. It made me feel that I will be robbed any moment. He stayed with me for the entire day, even walked me to the nail salon because I wanted to be ready for my work straight away. He wanted to wait outside the salon as it may be unsafe for me if I’m by myself. It was almost mission impossible to get rid of him, but I managed.

It was weird how he made me feel and how much I was thinking of the fact that I am not treated right and I need to do something about it. I finally accomplished what I had come for. I overcame my fears of being alone and realized I can do things on my own. I took the decision that was so hard to achieve. I rather be single than with a man who doesn’t provide me the basics like respect. I realized that I rather stay single than in a relation that made me feel I am alone all the time.