By Karen and Duane Sherer Stoltzfus
Peru SST Co-Directors, 2014-2015
Ready to dig in to a meal of fresh trout.
The first Mennonite church in Peru, La Iglesia Evangelica Menonita de Lucre (Lucre Mennonite Evangelical Church), was founded in this small mountain town of a few thousand people in 1990. We traveled together on Sunday afternoon for lunch at a trout farm owned by the pastor of that church, Eloy Sullca Bombilla, and his family. Lunch consisted of fresh trout, choclo, potatoes, salad and salsa de mani (a spicy peanut salsa).
A birthday cake for Willy.
Willy’s birthday was coming up in a few days, so we surprised him with a Tres Leches cake from a bakery in Cusco. It was even big enough to share some with our Lucre hosts!
The afternoon was spent climbing at nearby Tipón, a marvel of Inca waterworks. A series of canals provide fresh water to what was once a private estate of the Incan leader Pachacutec, looping across a series of terraces. The Incas corralled the water for both personal use and irrigation, finding ways to incorporate striking lines of stone into the natural landscape.
Amadeo takes a group photo on one of the Tipón terraces.
We appeared to be the only North Americans there, enjoying the site with local Peruvians for whom Tipón is a popular Sunday outing.
The men head across the bridge to the trout farm for lunch.The trout farm is called a piscigranja.The river that runs along the trout farm.Maria, Ammon and Willy feed the fish.Stirring the waters before catching our trout.Maria, Ammon and Willy,, catching trout in Lucre.Maria, Ammon and Willy, catching trout in Lucre.Maria, Ammon and Willy, catching trout in Lucre. Other diners enjoy the process. Maria, Ammon and Willy, catching trout in Lucre. Other diners enjoy the process. Maria, Ammon and Willy, catching trout in Lucre. Other diners enjoy the process. Maria, Ammon and Willy, catching trout in Lucre. Our bus driver looks on. Maria, Ammon and Willy, catching trout in Lucre. Okay – now we can eat!Ready to dig in to our meal of fresh trout.Ready to dig in to our meal of fresh trout.A plate full of trout, ensalada, papas and choclo.A birthday cake for Willy.Willy blows out his candles.Tres leches cake is a favorite here in Peru.The menu for the day at the trucheria.Christian enjoys some peace and quiet.There are different pools for the trout as they grow in size.Cleaning up after lunch.A local woman walks by the corn field to the trout farm.Looking across the river toward the town of Lucre.Lupine grow plentiful – and large – in this area.Visiting with Pastor Eloy after our meal.Pastor Eloy shares about his work with the local Mennonite church and with the Piscigranja.There are different pools for the trout as they grow in size.Leaving Lucre. The marshland here is a favorite bird watching site.Leaving Lucre. Looking out over the town of Tipón, famous for cuy.Liz, Lea and Jo pose at the entrance to Tipón.Flowers at Tipón.Climbing the stairs to begin our hike at Tipón.A water channel at Tipón.First view of Tipón terraces.Taking a break.Willy and Ike pose for a photo at Tipón.Our guide, Amadeo, explains the Tipón archaeological site.TipónTipónA water channel at Tipón.A Tipón wall.Tipón water channel flows through the terraces.Water flows into a pool at Tipón.Tipón wall.Ike samples the water at Tipón.Willy takes a drink of fresh water.Micah samples the fresh water.Tipón water channels.Amadeo takes a group photo on one of the Tipón terraces.Our guide, Amadeo, shows us how to drink from the water channels.Willy samples water from the channel.TipónTipónA piggyback ride is always in order.TipónContinuing our hike at Tipón.TipónTipónTipónChecking out the lichen growing on the rocks.Moss and lichen on the rocks at Tipón.Tipón rocks and flowers.Tipón view.Ike and Lea continue their climb at Tipon.TipónTipónTipón view as we climb higher.Tipón view overlooking the terraces and store houses.Micah and Ammon on the rocks.Elizabeth on a rock near the top.GC men on the rocks.Duane and Karen pose for a photo at Tipón.Changing light at Tipón.TipónView from way up hight at Tipón.Near the top, another group photo is in order.
