Peru

Other Journeys

The Peru Report  2

In this report, Nancy Stevens, is making her way to Machu Picchu, Peru, by way of Lima with a tour group. She then plans to travel to Lake Titicaca.

Crop Terraces in the Sacred Valley

Urubamba

Our Hotel in Urubamba

Hotel San Augustin

We went to the airport in Lima to fly to Cusco, which in the Quechuan language is pronounced Husco. Cusco became a thriving agricultural center 3,000 years ago, and was the capital of the Incan empire in the 16th century. If you want more history, go to http://www.cusco.net/articulos/cuscoinca.htm#Valley.

Once we arrived in Cusco, we went directly to Pisaq because the altitude is lower. It’s only 9,750 feet above sea level. We stopped at a llama ranch and learned about the different kinds of llamas. Did you know that alpacas have shorter necks than llamas? Surprised me! Then we went to the ruins in Pisaq. Very pretty, the Andes are beautiful. The terraces they use to grow food are interesting. Some are still in use. Right now, it’s foggy and there’s a slight drizzle. Here’s a good link to the area - http://www.cuscoperu.com/cusco/travel-peru/0231-pisaq-tours-peru.html.

Pisaq Ruins

At Pisaq (pronounced pea sack), we saw holes carved in the mountains where the locals buried their dead in the fetal position, because that’s the way we come into the world. But the Spanish removed them, so they’re empty now (at least I think...) My mother and I bought a wind chime that neither of us wanted ($3.00) because the guy who was selling it was so nice to us. There’s lots of locals selling lots of stuff that no one needs. I feel bad when I say -no, gracias- but I continue to do so, otherwise I’d have no room in my suitcase. I should have listened more carefully when Walter was teaching me to say, “no thank you” in Quechan.

Terraces at Pisaq

Right now I’ve got a really bad headache. Some of the people say it’s due to the lack of oxygen at the high altitude. Out hotel, Hotel San Augustin de la Recoleta, used to be a monastery built by the Spanish. It’s beautiful, but I spent most of the night in my hotel room with my head packed in ice in an attempt to get rid of my headache. My mother brought an entire pharmacy with her. She offered me a myriad of pills but I opted for only the aspirin.

The hotel is actually in Urubamba. A couple of interesting things I noticed here - a guy washing his car in a river, and the politicians paint their slogans onto people’s houses and onto the mountains. I was told they don’t even ask permission before they do it, or clean them up after the elections.

This keyboard doesn’t work too well. I have to hit the enter key really hard or it doesn’t work. And the mouse has a mind of it’s own.

Signing off...
more later,

Nancy Stevens

(continue to Peru 3)

Links

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Antigua Miraflores Hotel

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