LOST? AND FOUND and so much more GAINED

Well, in this week we have lost many things, jackets, hats,sunglasses, almost a purse and glasses, and a camera, but THE KICKER WAS LOSING DAD! I (Sue) wanted to take a ride, that´s how it all started. In Puno on Lake Titicaca, I saw a wonderful bicycle taxi thing, problem was he could only seat two. Imagine him using foot power only, to take us all over a city that has alot in common with San Francisco. Anyway, Kate wanted Dan and I to go, but Dan didn´t have an interest. We were on our way to the fruit market from the port. Dan took our picture and we were off.
The market wasn´t where we thought it was, when we turned and went down a couple more streets and saw the size of the market, we knew we were in trouble. Oh, did I mention we had the only key with the address to the hostel on it. Kate dropped me off and went back for dad, but he wasn´t there. She had the bicycle taxi do this huge loop all over the waterfront looking for him.When she came back to me, we put all the pieces together. An hour and a half later and several taxi trips back and forth, after dark and in the rain, we were all reunited at the hostel. "HAVE YOU SEEN THE GRINGO IN THE COWBOY HAT?" was Kate´s new favorite question to any and everyone! Turns out dad had enough spanglish to help them get there finally. Somehow using the "pequeño park-o" and "choo-choo" for train tracks and pointing to the color of his shirt to imply the hostel was yellow and three stories... the taxi driver found it! No one was ever in any danger this is a very friendly town , but still quite an adventure.
Seriously though, we have gained so much more! What haven´t we done in a week and yesterday was the climatic pt. , an entire day on a boat. We saw the floating islands, met fisherman who lived in a shelter with only enough room on their island for them, the boat and a cook fire and visted an island right out of the movies. It was the most beautiful back drop I may ever have ever seen, that´s saying a lot but it was amazing. I´m sunburned and exhausted, but have a joy I cannot explain. Meeting these people yesterday and experiencing their culture brought tears to my eyes. These shared times with Kate have been absolutely amazing. I´m so grateful we could be here. I thank God for this experience and the beauty he has created here!
sue on Kate's blog.....brittney you were right she almost put us into the ground, but was it ever worth it!