The Yavari

Before coming to Peru, I was given some travel tips by a pair of intrepid adventurers who were here last year, Nina's parents. One of the things they recommended in Puno was the Yavari, a ship that was comissioned for the Peruvian Navy in the mid-19th century and had fallen into disrepair by the late 20th, when a restoration project began.

After arriving at 3 am to rain and cold (there's a pattern here), I awoke again to a warm, sunny day, and headed out to see what I could see. I hopped a cab with a driver who, it soon became apparent, had absolutely no idea what or where the Yavari was. And I could not for the life of me come up with the word for "boat." He let me off at the main waterfront, and I was directed to another point along the shore, about a 20 minute walk away.

My walk led me along some train tracks.

And then to the wrong boat. Comissioned at the same time, now a restaurant.

There she is! Across this very squeaky walkway.

The Yavari was built in England, then disassembled, shipped to Peru, and carried up to Lake Titicaca by men and mules, where it was rebuilt. The whole process took over ten years! When it was actively patrolling the waters, there was a fuel shortage and it ran on dried llama dung. Fascinating!

It's now back up to running capability; the engine is fired up once a month and it actually sails the lake twice each year.

When I stepped here the warped metal moved with a BOOM and I thought the boat would sink.

The ship's wheel and compass, both original. (I think. My tour was in Spanish)

Looking pretty good! Restoration continues with visitor donations.

Nothing to do with the Yavari, just some pretty tiles in a plaza near the city center.