After Cusco, we made our way through the Valle Sagrada, or Sacred Valley of the Incas, so called because it contained stunning lands and properties that belonged to the emperor himself. We started the day in the ancient Inca capital of Cusco, visiting the central plaza – one of the most beautiful in South America – and a market.
A weaver at work.
Then our bus took us on to some of those famous Inca sites. We visited Chinchero, where the great Inca sat on a throne of stone to observe religious festivities in a wide, artificially-flattened parade ground below. A colonial-era church now sits on the foundation of what was once an Inca temple. Chinchero is also a community of weavers, so we visited one of the many textile workshops there. The artisans showed us how they dye and spin llama and alpaca wool and weave the wonderful creations that were for sale.
After a little shopping, we went on to Moray, a sort of Incan agricultural laboratory. Circular terraces provided microclimates at different levels, where the Incas apparently determined optimum conditions for various crops. Our guide, Salvador, brought along a soccer game for a little fun in the shadow of those beautiful terraces.
By evening we arrived in Ollantaytambo, an important rest stop and administrative and religious center for the Incas. It is a very old town, consistently inhabited since Inca times. You can still walk the cobblestone streets and see houses and walls built on the great stone foundations of the Incas. We celebrated Leah’s birthday that evening.
They made it!
The next morning, we awoke to a steady rain. It was nice to hear the music of rain on the roof again – it never rains in Lima – but not everyone felt up to the hikes planned for the day. Some of us stayed dry indoors while the more intrepid souls set out with guide Salvador to climb a steep trail up to some ancient Incan store houses. They were rewarded with a gorgeous view of the town and valley. Later, an even smaller group walked across the small town to the opposite hillside, to visit a truly amazing structure. The Incas built a great stone citadel into the hillside, using giant boulders from across the valley. The site has given archeologists many clues about how they did it, since work was abandoned there before it was finished.
That afternoon, we boarded a train which followed the Vilcanota River to the small tourist-trap town of Aguas Calientes, the jumping off point to Machu Picchu.
The Summer 2014 Peru SST group in the Plaza Central of Cusco, with the cathedral in the background.A police officer shows Derek a new trick with the top.Our guide, Salvador, shows us a wall of fine Inca stonework, hidden on a small side street in Cusco.Exploring the streets of Cusco.We visited the San Pedro market, not far from the central plaza.Market abundance.Treats in the market.Shopping in the market.Peruvian chicken is very tasty.A bread stand in the market.Jaime is a formidable negotiator. Stefan and Brody consider a purchase.A view of snow-capped Andes, on the way to Chinchero.The colonial church and some of the Inca terraces at Chinchero.Emma and StefanMiranda and BrodyOn one of the thrones carved by the Incas.Lunch together in Chinchero.Weavers in a Chinchero textile workshop show us how alpaca wool is dyed with natural ingredients.A weaver at work.The color red is accomplished with these tiny cactus parasites.If you squeeze one of the tiny parasites, you get a surprising amount of red blood. If you use red lipstick, you are probably using this ingredient.All the colors are achieved with local, natural ingredients.Leah and Sierra check out the textiles.MorayFutbol at Moray, a highlight of the day.Spectators enjoying the game.Students pose near the bottom of the circular terraces.Happy birthday to Leah!Students relax after a busy day.A morning hike in the rain at Ollantaytambo.Damp but undeterred, these students climbed to the Inca storehouses, seen in the background.Joel at the storehouses.They made it!Even on a rainy day, the view is worth it.A smaller group continued on to the Ollantaytambo archeological park, with Salvador.Imperial-style Inca stonework at its best. Notice how tightly the stones are fitted together.OllantaytamboAlejandro views the terraces at Ollantaytambo.The monster-sized boulders were squared off and polished smooth without the use of metal tools.Students pose in front of a temple wall built with joints as an anti-seismic measure.A view of the town from the citadel. Far below, you can see huge stones that the Incas hurled down on the Spaniards. The Incas won that battle.These guys laugh in the face of a little rainstorm.In the afternoon, we took a train to Aguas Calientes.Munching and enjoying the view.View from the train windows.Playing cards on the way.Emma reveals her hand.Lucas and Tim share music.Edith and MirandaDerek and SierraJust as evening falls, we arrive at Aguas Calientes.A snack in a surprisingly wonderful French bakery. Tomorrow, Machu Picchu.
