Taking off from the shore city of Puno, a group of about 2 dozen tourists embarked on a 2-day tour of the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca. Our main destination was the island of Amantani, about 4 hours away. On our way, we stopped at several islands. The best-known of the islands dotting Titicaca's surface are the Uros, floating islands of reed named after the Indians who inhabited them. Legend has it the Uro Indians had black blood that helped them survive the frigid nights on the water and safeguarded them from drowning. The floating islands are man-made, created from reeds pulled away from the bottom of the lake by the movement of the waters. Walking on the 'ground' surface was very strange, essentially walking on reeds. Even the huts and most of the boats are made of reeds.