Peru « Lanikai Underway

Inca Sites near Cuzco, Peru

Posted by Doreen in Inland Travel, Peru
Saturday, August 25th, 2007 @ 2:42 pm

Tuesday 20 August, we took a local bus to an Inca site about 5 miles from Cuzco. This site of Tambo Machay was called the “Inca Baths” because there are several fountains with pools of water at their base. Across the main road from this first site is another site of Inca ruins, Puca Pucura. This site has a high central plaza and the remains of buildings on the terraces just below. It was probably a resting place on this Inca road leading from Cuzco. After visiting this site and taking some photos of the Inca terraces that line the sides of the valley, we continued walking toward Cuzco. We had plans to visit two more sites along the way but ended up making an early turn off the main road, directly to Sacsayhuamán, so we missed the site of Qenko.

Sacsayhuamán is a ruin site that borders Cuzco in the heights above the modern city. This site is composed of a large parade ground , or plaza, bordered by a zigzag, three-terraced Inca wall on one side and terraces on the other. Above the zigzag wall are the remains of several structures, including a circular one that was probably a temple to the sun. After exploring above the zigzag wall, we returned to the plaza and then climbed up on the terraced side to view the large natural rock that seemed to be scared by glaciers in the distant past. This large rock has several Inca shrines carved into it. While sitting up there, a modern Inca gentleman (his native language is Quechua, although Spanish is a close second) joined us and described his feelings about the site as well as other nearby mountain ruin sites. Before continuing the short distance back into Cuzco, we climbed up to the hilltop with the modern 11-meter-tall Christ statue that overlooks the city of Cuzco. Then we made the steep descent to the city plaza, along paths and stairs that have pre-Colonial origins.

On a small plaza of San Francisco de Borja, just above the main plaza, boys were constructing bamboo fireworks towers. They said that they would be setting them off about 9PM. We watched the construction for awhile before heading down for dinner. We returned to the hotel room to dress warmly and returned to the fireworks plaza. We found a nice bench and watched the finishing-up of the tower constructions. About 8PM, a band, followed by a group of people, filed into the plaza. Tubs of drink and food were brought in as well. When the group got settled, a hot sweet rice and milk drink was served to all. Bill and I enjoyed it. Then food of chicken and boiled potatoes was passed out. It smelled delicious but since Bill and I had just finished eating a big dinner, we declined the food. Then, after everyone finished eating, another hot drink was served, probably Chicha Morada (a non-alcoholic local drink made from corn). Bill and I again enjoyed the hot drink!! After everyone was fed (including the band), the fireworks display started. The first to be exploded were large rockets that exploded in big bursts of color overhead. These were followed by figures held by hand on long bamboo poles, some even shot pinwheels of color up into the air. Finally the fireworks on the 7 large bamboo towers were lit, one at a time. Many of the towers had spinners that spun off into the night, bursting into great flowers of color. It was all quite spectacular and was done in honor of the Virgin of the Asunta. Bill and I did not get back to the hotel until after 11pm, surprising the hotel staff at our late return.

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More “Sacred Valley” sites – Peru pictures, part 13

Posted by Doreen in !Pictures, Inland Travel, Peru
Saturday, August 25th, 2007 @ 11:06 am

Three more sites in the Sacred Valley

Moray, where circular terraces in bowls were probably used for experimental crop development.

Bill climbs down the Inca steps built into the terrace walls.

Salinas: salt drying ponds still in use today.

Chinchero ruins, where we had the site almost to ourselves. This shows the foundations of buildings on one of the terraces.

The old church at Chinchero was built on Inca ruins. It is painted with lots of Inca and Christian designs both inside and on its front entrance.

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Machu Picchu – Peru pictures, part 12

Posted by Doreen in !Pictures, Inland Travel, Peru
Saturday, August 25th, 2007 @ 11:03 am

Machu Picchu, Perú. One of the “New Seven Wonders” of the world, see www.new7wonders.com

View into Machu Picchu toward the “guard station”, the main entrance into the city.

View into Machu Picchu from the “guard station”, showing the steep terraces on the west side which drops steeply to the river.

The “drawbridge” that we hiked along the cliff-hanging trail to see. This would easily close the back-door route to the city!

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Ollantaytambo – Perú pictures, part 11

Posted by Doreen in !Pictures, Inland Travel, Peru
Saturday, August 25th, 2007 @ 11:01 am

See the Map!

Ollantaytambo, Perú, at the end of the road.

Inca terraces above the modern city of Ollantaytambo.

A water fountain on a lower level at the Ollantaytambo Ruin site.

Men in the central plaza of the modern city of Ollantaytambo waiting for the day to begin. Bill and I ate breakfast alongside the plaza after returning on the early morning train from Aguas Calientes (and Machu Picchu).

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Ruins at Pisaq – Peru pictures, part 10

Posted by Doreen in !Pictures, Inland Travel, Peru
Saturday, August 25th, 2007 @ 10:59 am

See the Map!

Incan ruins just outside the city of Pisaq, Peru

Agricultural terraces, with the farmers homes above, at the Inca ruins at Pisac.

The temple of the sun at Pisac.

View down into the modern city of Pisac from the ruins high on the hillside above. This also shows the Inca terraces that cover the sides of the valley; the Rio Urubamba is visible in the bottom of the valley.