Saturday September 8
Today we hike up to the Cachiccata Quarries on an old Inca path to the Apu Buena Nebraska, a geological formation. We are at 2700 M. It is from here the Incas carved out the massive stones,some several tons, that were used to construct the fortress at Ollantaytambo which we climbed 2 days ago. These same stones were severed from the mountain using existing cracks, burning wood followed by cold water. Three consecutive walls were constructed down the mountain to stop the stones. They were then moved down the very path we have been climbing using logs to roll them. Throughout the hike we have been viewing the very impressive and beautiful snow covered Andes, the terraced fields and rivers of the Sacred Valley.
Sunday September 9
Today is the first day of our trek on the Ancient Inca Trail. It began with a 45 minute drive back up a long valley. The farther we get from town the more authentic life becomes. This is very rural and residents represent the hundreds of year old traditional way of life. It is their market day. I saw fruits and vegetables I could not recognize. We saw the secondary school that World Expeditions built 10 years ago. We began walking down the valley and visited with local farmers in their field. These fields were plowed by oxen with men following behind holding a wooden plow. Prior to planting the seeds, they must give thanks to Mother Earth by pouring certain liquids, cacao beans and other leaves as a sacrifice. Then they have a feast right there is the field where they are about to plant corn. We continued down the trail with our eventual goal being Punmarca, an archeological site reasonable intact with much terracing. It’s purpose originally was as a fort and lookout. We continue down observing many terraces planted in traditional crops. The irrigation troughs are all original Inca, with some repairs. We see sheep and cows tethered in place quite frequently. It was a long way down, rocky and steep. I am afraid to say it got the best of me. I am going to take tomorrow off!
Monday September 10
Ed is hiking with our guide alone today. I slept until noon, did laundry. There is so much that we have learned about the local people. Many cannot read or write and that translates into some interesting ways of life. If a building has a red flag, plastic bag, hanging by the door, the business is a bar, if it is a blue “bag flag”, it is a restaurant. This is election time here in Peru. Every rural community, small town and city has a mayor who is elected to a term of 5 years. The political ads for those who are running, and there are many, are painted on the sides of buildings. The owner of the building is in turn granted an offer of a job. Each ad includes a symbol, such as a flower, a tree, ones uses a shovel, or an animal to identify that candidate. In this way the people are able to identify each candidate. The Inca live in harmony with earth. They worship the sun, moon,stars and mountains. The puma, cormorants, and frogs are sacred. We see each of these represented in the beautiful woven patterns of their fabrics.
Motorcycle taxi
Sunday Market
Mother and children in traditional dress
At the Inca Quarry looking down the Sacred Valley
A long hike up
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