MachuPicchu & the Galapagos 2019

Part C: Cusco, Peru

Before making it back to Cusco, we took the train back from MaPi to Ollantaytambo, where we hiked some Incan ruins before heading even higher into the mountains to the small town of Chinchero.

Sadly, we board the train away from MaPi; though Sherry & Mason are two happy campers as they view the gorge scenery.

The morning mist gave our departure an eerie quality; the only rain we got was the night before, so we were quite lucky with the weather gods.

Below left, we wave to hikers about to begin the four-day hike into MaPi via the Incan Trail; pack animals and sherpas recommended.

Below right, Ollantaytambo station.

A short bus ride brought us to the Fortress Ruins, an impressive stack of tiers that run up the mountain.  Several of us climbed to the top, with Cindy and me taking up the rear guard.  It was one of the few places where the Incans held off the Spanish conquistadors.

Just across the river from the ruins, farm life proceeds as it has for thousands of years with oxen and wooden hoes.

Right, our fearless OAT leader,  Manuel, never lacks for enthusiasm or desire to make this the best adventure we've ever experienced.

After the Ollantaytambo ruins, it's back on the bus for a 90-minute ride further up the mountain to the quaint town of Chinchero, where we were expecting a native "healer," as well as a weaving demonstration.  We might be "pacing," but OAT leaves no stone unturned in its quest to bring us the best of Peruvian life.

Above, the weavers demonstrate their techniques; below, Sherry, Ellen & Melinda are shown how to dye the cleaned alpaca threads by expert weaver, Livia.

Below left, a weaver struts her stuff.  Melinda, Tracy, Sherry & Ellen, then Rick & Mason, keep their composure at the  12,400' elevation level of Chinchero (pop: 10,500).

Then it's back on the bus to head to Cusco, Manuel's home town.  I thought this photograph looked like a water color as the bus barrels downhill into town.  Cusco is strategically placed in a valley surrounded by high hills; to me it looked much bigger than the reported population of  430,000.  But what a quaint downtown area, easily walkable during the day and at night.

Not surprisingly, the town transforms after the sun goes down or when it comes up in the morning.  

Remember, too, we are close to the Equator, and we get about 12 hours of daylight all year long.  Also, even at this high elevation, there is no freeze.  Odd for those of us from areas where it can freeze at sea level!

The Cusco flag above; a park lizard we stumbled upon; the moon on the rise next to the church.

On to our last daytime adventure in Peru:  Up the mountain to a place called Saqsaywaman, another Incan ruin site.  Manuel pronounced it "Sexy Woman."  Worked for us.  

It was an incrediby impressive site.  Not only did it have exquisite views of Cusco, but you could see the rock quarry that was used just hundreds of yards away (some quarries used were 20 miles away!).  Yet, the stones were so HUGE and so perfectly fit, it's a marvel that they were able to carve the stones at the quarry, fit them, then HAUL them to the site, then perfectly place them as if it were a three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle.  Extraordinary architecture and stonework.

Even the tall docs, Sherry & Mason, are dwarfed by the size of the stones in the ruins.  Some of the stones must weigh up to 300 tons!

Alpacas pose near the ruins.  In the morning, Yolanda gives Manuel a heartfelt adios! before we catch a plane to Quito.