Andean Explorer cont.

At the station there was the ubiquitous but small market selling local and not so local wares. The stop appears to be nothing more than an attempt to assist the economy of the local community. Then back on the train for a 3 course lunch as we continued on to Puno. The remainder of the journey was through quite harsh and dry farming communities on a plateau in the Andes but all above 3200 mts. The sheep,cattle,alpacas and llamas are all tethered and watched over all day,sun up to sun down, mostly by older woman or children between 5 to 8, before being taken home at dusk. A feature of the train is the last carriage of which one half consists of a glass enclosed lounge and and the other an observation car which is also glass enclosed but the last meter or so is open, with brass railing to prevent accidental egress. The dining cars and the observation car are all fully refurbished in the manner of the Pullman cars of the 1920s. About an hour before Puno we passed through the town of Juliaca at about  2 kph. This is brought about because the train line runs through the middle of the market, and the locals being very astute, can see no reason why a perfectly good piece----cont.