On our second day in the Cusco area, students woke up in the quiet of mountain hamlets. In the morning we hiked the trails of a beautiful Inca site called Tipon, where water from an underground spring was channeled with such precision that it still runs and never changes in volume, even during times of drought or flood. Lunch was oven-roasted cuy (guinea pig), a Peru SST rite of passage. Guinea pigs were raised in every Inca household and remain a treat to the Andean people. After lunch we went to another Inca ruin, Pikillaqta, with shaman Basilio Samata. He showed us how to make an ofrenda, or thank-you offering to Pachamama (mother earth). Sr. Basilio is a practicing Catholic as well as a Quechua spiritual leader. He gave each of us a blessing, wishing us health, wealth and happiness.
Brody and Stefan wait with their host mother.Joel and Lucas arrive in the morning with their host mother.Alejandro has rediscovered tops, which he played with as a child.Alejandro teaches Michael how to spin a top.The Lucre group waits for the bus.The group from Huacarpay waits for the bus.The Inca channels at Tipon.An Inca princessOur guide, SalvadorTiponAn Inca princeJoel checks out the Inca stonework.The water from the underground spring is clear and pure.Locals tell us the water has healing properties.Viewing the world from an Inca perspective.Leah and the blue, blue sky of the AndesDerek photographs the mountain wild flowers.AlejandroThe excellent eighteenMirandaMattSome Midwestern hayseeds.TimoteoTipon has beautiful trails to hike.Brody Pausing for a breakBrianDerek and MattEmma Walking along a water channel.The view from TiponLunch was at this cuyeria, or cuy restaurantRoasted cuys emerging from the wood oven.We each tackled a quarter of a cuy, with pasta, a potato and a stuffed pepper and – of course! – Inca cola.TimMirandaBrodyEmma gives it the ol’ college try.Joel and AlejandroDerek and StefanSierra the cat magnet.Shaman Basilio Samata prepares a thank-you to Pachamama.The shaman uses coca leaves, with are an integral part of Andean life.Derek and MirandaWe had a friendly visitor.The shaman adds symbolic items to the offering.The offering includes a little llama shaped from llama fat, a symbol of prosperity.The shaman had us blow three times on coca leaves.A blessing for DerekAndrew receives a blessing.A final prayerKeeping warm on a windy afternoonThe beauty of the Andes
