Today was the first and smallest of what is said to be two days of festivities here in Puno, Peru. I’m not exactly sure what it is that is being celebrated, but this coming Wednesday is supposed to be an even larger day of festivities with as many as 30,000 people from cities, towns and villages all around the Lake Titicaca area converging on Puno for one massive day of music, dancing, drinks, and outrageous costumes.

The images below are a potpourri of photos I took today during the first and smaller day of festivities here in Puno, Peru. The images here are show in now particular order.

They guy above saw me taking photos, watched me for at least five minutes, and after he had built up some courage, came over to me and asked that I take his photo.

Yes, that is a real stuffed mountain lion sitting on the back of this man. He was dancing with the dead Puma on his back and one of his friend was dancing with the body of a dead condor in his backside.

These girls (and the more native looking girls you’ll see below in just a moment) came up to me and asked that I take their photo. They were really happy to see their pictures on my LCD screen after the photo had been taken.