We were so charmed
by our first visit to Peru, we had to share it with Jack's two
daughters, so we returned to the Sacred Valley with them in
April 1998 and January 1999.
This was after we traveled up the Tambopata River to see the
magnificent clay lick in September 1997. Click on most of the
thumbnails below for larger versions.
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The Sacred Valley, is on the way to Machu Picchu and has many
interesting sites on its own.
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The terraces of Pisac are at one end of the Sacred Valley and
next to a wonderful craft market.
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The charming village of Ollaytantambo surrounds the site dates
back to the days of the Inca, maybe before.
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About an hour from Cuzco is Ollaytantambo, a magnificent Inca
construction with terraces and baths and a mystical temple at
the peak. The picturesque town has original Inca and pre-Inca
walls and streets.
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Many baths, fed by natural springs, are at
the base of the sacred site.
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Structures across from the main ruins at Ollantaytambo in
the Sacred Valley have mystified visitors for ages. Some say
they were storehouses, others say guardhouses. Others say they
had a mystical purpose.
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The classic view of Machu Picchu, taken
from where the Inca Trail enters the ancient city, at the
hut of the Guardian of Above.
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A view of the priests' house.
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The Temple of the Sun, with its worked altar and fine stone work
is a center point of Machu Picchu.
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The head of the Condor in the ceremonial center.
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Here is a good view of the entrance to the altar complex under
the Temple of the Sun in Machu Picchu. This is sometimes called
the Royal Tomb and is at the top of the Royal Baths.
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The thatched roof has been reconstructed on the hut for the
"Guardian of the Arriba" at Machu Picchu.
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Large natural outcroppings are believed to have special powers,
such as this "Pachamama stone" on the way to the Gate of the Sun
from the main part of Machu Picchu.
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Jack and daughter Lesli made it from the main square to the Gate
of the Sun, where the Inca Trail enters Machu Picchu. Note the
hairpin road the buses take to the ruins site from the village
of Agua Calientes.
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Meanwhile, John made it to the top of the
mountain Machu Picchu, which gives the ruins their name.
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As Shari was coming down from a morning visit to the Guardian of
the Above, these llamas were going up their favorite field
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Shari arose early in the morning and, carrying video and still
cameras, made the two-hour climb to the top, including up and
down the stairs shown on either side. The last stretch
involves lifting oneself up through two horizontal rocks. The
mountain in the background is Machu Picchu. .
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When the main crowds left and the afternoon became quiet, the
viscachas (short-eared, long-tailed Andean rabbits) came out to
play in a quiet corner, below the Pachamama stone.
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This colorful Andean Cock of the Rock put on an early morning
show on the grounds of Machu Picchu Pueblo in Agua Calientes.
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A condor passes over Machu Picchu on the morning updrafts
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Rainbows frequently show up over the valleys surrounding Machu
Picchu, esp. in the afternoon
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One of the most impressive ancient constructions is the
ceremonial center of Sachsayhuaman in Cuzco.
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The
Cuzco Market: Flowers add color and
the "witches market" with herbs, charms and llama fetuses,
adds color of another sort
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Fresh
Produce at Cuzco Market: The native
market in Cuzco is filled with fruits and vegetables, as
well as several aisles of juice bars, all fresh.
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On Sunday morning the plaza was filled with various groups of
workers marching in a celebration. Note policeman in "riot
gear."
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On the side streets of Cuzco, we met Marko and Martine at
Amazonia. The two Peruvian artists who use their talents to help
teach children in Peru and elsewhere about the rainforest and
other wild habitats.
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Visitors love the llamas and this woman is happy to accommodate
photographers at the sacred fountains of Tambo Machay, outside
Cuzco.
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Other locals in their colorful tradtional dress also hope for a
little cash from avid visiting photographers.
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Qenko, religious site outside Cuzco
contains sacred caves and a strange carved surface on top of the
huge stones.
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At the top of Sacsayhuaman near Cuzco in May 1998, we sat and
meditated in what I'll call the "star circle," believed to have
been an astronomical observatory, or a water reservoir.
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Sachsayhuaman was a fortress and,
some say, sacred center. The stones in the jagged walls are
enormous and finely worked
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A day trip to an area
of four mountain lakes, southeast of Cuzco, was full of sights,
such as burros, flamingos and no other tourists. If you click
the thumbnail, you'll see the hard-working Peruvian farmers in their
field.
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Guide Boris Cardenas suggested Hostal Centenario, about four
blocks from the Plaza de Armas. The rooms were large, clean and
full of amenities. The staff was fabulous.
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This visit to Peru ended with a tour of Lima,
including the Lord of Sipan, the Gold Museum, and the colorful
"Lovers Park" in Miraflores.
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The most direct route to the town of Copacabana on Lake Titicaca
from La Paz, Bolivia, includes a ferry ride over an arm of the
highest navigable lake in the world. Passengers go on motor
boats, vehicles go on barges. The Andeans believe Lake Titicaca
to be the birthplace of the Sun and Moon.
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When we took a small ferry over toward Copacabana, our bus was
put on a barge to cross this arm of Lake Titicaca.
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Their creator god, Viracocha, is said to come from the Island of
the Sun in the lake, about 3 hours boat ride from Copacabana.
Nearby is the Island of the Moon, where young virgins were
trained to be wives and servants of the Incas and the priests.
This is a view on the walk to the Temple of the Sun, the site of
the creation.
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Sunset from the boat on Lake Titicaca. We
actually weren't supposed to be on the water after dark, but
our boat ran out of gas and mama had to come with a fresh
can.
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Lesli and John ventured on their own from
Copacabana on Lake Titicaca to talk with a maker of reed
boats.
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One of the most famous of the ancient
ruins in South America is the Gate of the Sun at Tiahuanaco,
near La Paz.
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A quick peek at Tambopata
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The port at Puerto Maldonado from which we took the motorized
canoe for an 8-hour trip up the Tambopata River, a tributary of
the Amazon River.
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The comfortable air-cooled lodge at
Tambopata Research Center.
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\A morning view of the clay lick, before the birds.
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Even at the clay lick the hand-raised "chicos"
recognized guide Pepe as a source of food.
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