Sunday, Feb 3rd, Cusco, Peru

Greetings!

This morning, we drove back up to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, by way of two ruins (Puka Pukara and Tambo Machay).  The latter is an important example of the Incan reverence for water.  The fountains appear to provide some of the finest showers on the Incan trail outposts, and the fortress in front probably protected Cusco.  It has been suggested that well-known use of conch shells, and the uniquely acoustical valley, probably made communication easy between the two locations.

 On the way to valley, we stopped at Awana Kancha, called the living museum of the Andes.  It presents the Andean weaving story from the source to the finished products, presented by 700 members of 14 villages in the region.  The organization is committed to supporting the preservation of endangered members of the camelid family (llamas, alpacas, vicunas, and guanacos), as well as growing the many varieties of their food sources.

Begun in 1989, the organization now includes over 700 members of 14 local communities which rotate weavers into the compound monthly.  Forty percent of the proceeds are returned to them.

Spinning, dyeing, and weaving techniques were demonstrated, and we watched young members of the communities producing the various yarns and cloths.

Arriving in Pisac, we walked to the main plaza where the market included the traditional crafts and Sunday fruit, meats, and produce.  As it was our last day in Peru, we decided to buy some gifts and keepsakes there.

Tomorrow, we board the train to Puno, a Bolivian border town.

To see all of the photos taken today, click on Sunday, Feb 3rd, Cusco.