Peru

Maras, Peru – Harvesting Salt For The Incan Empire And Modern-Day Peru

June 28, 2012

Maras is in the Sacred Valley near Cusco. It’s truly a feast for the eyes. It seems like something out of this world when you see it from afar. Surrounded by mountain greenery in all directions, all of a sudden you see a honeycomb of white rectangles. Amazing. I was especially eager to see Maras [...]

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Moray – The Incan Agricultural Laboratory

June 27, 2012

When you first arrive at Moray you can immediately see the impressive site below. But it just looks like the terraced farming seen at other sites in Cusco. But it’s so much more. Agricultural Laboratory It is believed that the Incas used Moray as an agricultural laboratory. By using their knowledge of the sun, wind, [...]

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Visiting An Indigenous Peruvian Clothing Co-op That Uses Traditional Methods And Dyes

June 26, 2012

As part of a day tour in Cusco, the first stop was at a shop showing the traditional way of making Incan clothing. Of course, after the show you are encouraged to buy things, but that’s how things go and each tour I took had an element like this. I’m sure the tour operators earn [...]

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Machu Pichu

June 25, 2012

Some things don’t require narration. Below is my encounter with Machu Pichu. Arrival By Train First Glimpse When I got there in the morning, it was foggy and cloudy. Below are the pictures. Inca Bridge A small bridge from the Incan times used by the Incan army to protect Machu Pichu. Beautiful views and vegetation [...]

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Ollantaytambo – An Emperor’s Home And The Last Stop Before Machu Pichu

June 23, 2012

Ollantaytambo was built for an Incan emperor. What remains is an impressive site with the emperor’s face indelibly watching the city. Face Carving For me, the most impressive thing about Ollantaytambo is the carving of the Inca Emperor’s face into the mountain. The length of the face is about 30ft/10m. It’s a wonder how the [...]

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Que Caro Es Ser Pobre – Public Spending

June 21, 2012

When I was volunteering at Maya Pedal in Guatemala there was a sign on the wall that said “Que Caro Es Ser Pobre”. It means “How expensive it is to be poor.” As I travel through many of the world’s “poor” countries, I am writing a series of articles about how expensive it is to be poor. [...]

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Pisaq – Fortress, Cemetery, Terraced Agriculture, And A Partridge In A Pear Tree

June 20, 2012

The architectural ruins at Pisaq, the entrance to the Sacred Valley, show the Inca’s ingenuity and gives insight into how they lived. Even from afar, this site is impressive as you can see below. Terraced Agriculture Upon entering the site, the most immediately obvious thing you notice is the agricultural steps. These terraces, made by [...]

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A Walk Through The Pisaq Market

June 19, 2012

The town of Pisaq is at the entrance to the Valle Sagrado/Sacred Valley of the Incas. It was the bread basket of the Incan Empire, with food production generously supported by the sacred Urubamba River. Pisaq market is a market set up in the narrow, winding streets of Pisaq. The sights, sounds, smells, colors, and [...]

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Puka Pukara – Cusco’s Beautiful Red Fortress At Twilight

June 18, 2012

Puka Pukara, or red fort in Quechua, gets its name from the red tint the rocks reflect at twilight. The site was a military fortress designed to protect the city of Cusco and served as a settlement. Scholars believe it was an Incan administrative center of sorts. There are aqueducts, plazas, baths, fountains, and other [...]

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