Sacred Valley

There are many things that you might not know about the Incan Empire. After my day of traveling through the sacred valley I can safely say that you will might not know even more about the Incans. 

Claro?

This is Pachacutec the great Incan leader in the 1400's. He was king when the Spanish came and thought that if he just went ahead and gave them a room full of gold they would go away. They did... for a bit.

 Our tour started in Cusco and after deciding that we indeed did not want to see a sexy woman

(see previous post) we settled on an animal rescue place, Ollantaytambo, and Pisac. It was an amazing day, we saw incredible country and people, and learned so much about the area. As is usual I cannot vouch for the veracity of the following statements.

Animal Rescue Place

This dog is not in need of rescue but has somehow found its way into the title of "Dog of Peru". Really Peru? Were all of the other breeds taken? Did you come late to the United Nations pick your dog conference? I just cannot like this hairless dog (and I like dogs)

 More in need of saving was the headless Alpaca. Cheap to feed though.

 If I could grow eyebrows and mutton chops like this fellow, I would be a happy man.

 Another in the list of not so pretty animals is the Condor. Revered by the Incans as an animal that could live between this world and the one above due to its ability to soar at high altitudes. Impressive yes, pretty no.

They have  an almost 9 foot wingspan which cannot be fully appreciated until one is soaring toward you to land. (Notice Mort defensively tucking and rolling)

 The Inca felt that the sacred valley was the mirror of the milky way. You would see what they were talking about if this picture would have been taken at night. And the milky way was visible...

This is Pisac, one of the defensive outposts near Cusco. In addition to watching for invading tribes from the jungle it was an agricultural locale. The steps you can see were carefully controlled microclimates. The drainage was well thought out, the stones provided passive solar, and they made great putt putt golf courses.

 Bringing up some roofing material.

The stone work was what really impressed- many of the quarries were across the valley and these stones are huge! Moving them is one thing- carving them another- the perfect seams and tight fit blow you away! Jim Olson- your next rock wall has some inspiration to draw from.

 Guards in the doorway

 Our next stop was Ollantaytambo- If the rock work we had seen so far was amazing this place blew it away because they also added the celestial component Check this out, in the next picture right above the cloud is a place where the sun rises only on winter solstice (June 21) and shines directly into the sun temple. Here it gets good, the whole city was built to look like an alpaca. The sun temple sits in the eye of the alpaca- so eye lights up- it must be the solstice. Just in case they also carved protuberances into the rock and divots- Yup you guessed it, when the shadows line up in the divots it means solstice. They really knew how to use that google!

the green arrow shows the eye of the alpaca (great Survivor song from the 80's)

Incan escalator

Wilder in the doorway, crazy lady behind

At first I thought this was a group of kids looking to make some money off the tourists- but it was a school trip of local kids- this is what they wear to school! Amazing colors.

Exit through the gift shop, with some nice music as well.

I saw these flags along the road- some were pulled back and against the houses but most were leaning in the roadway. The signaled that the house had chicha to sell. Chicha is a mushed up corn paste that ferments. You buy a bag and eat the alcoholic corn mush- I passed.

and her name was Veronica. No seriously this peak is named Veronica.

We had one last stop to make before heading back to Cusco. A small cooperative where local ladies spun, died, and wove alpaca wool. One of those places where we could have bought lots of fabric- but our wallets weren't full enough.

This girls was so sweet giving the talk about how things worked, she was one year younger than Wilder- crazy to think how worlds apart they are but similar as well I bet.

Loved this little guy!