Sunday, October 7, 2012

Making Mummy's

Alan is guiding me to the mummy cave.

Entrance to the mummy cave.

This is the alter where mummy's were made and llama's were sacrificed.

Sacsayhuamán

The ruin outside Cuzco is pronounced "Sock-say-wah-mun".  Our guide Alan said to make it easy for visitors, the locals sometimes call it Sexy Woman.  The size of the rocks is amazing given that no heavy equipment was used in the placement of the rocks.

 Alan said theis a great example of the Inca's precise measurement and precise stonework.  There is no trial and error with this size of stones.  You get one chance to do it right.

The snake below was filled with gold before the Spaniards looted the area.


I highlighted the outline of the llama.

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Cuzco, Peru

The view from our balcony in Cuzco
Cuzco's main square and cathedral.


Many homes were adorned with a clay statue of two bulls and a cross.  The bull represents happiness, wealth and fertility, while the cross keeps the bad spirits away.

Around Cuzco

Even in the 3rd largest city in Peru, folks tied their animals to rocks to graze on whatever grass available.

Cuzco

Inkaterra Resort in Aguas Calientes

Views from our resort in Aguas Calientes

 Tea Plantation at the resort.  The resort grew their own black tea and green tea.

 View of the town from our resort

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Victoria Glacier - through the train window

Road to Machu Picchu

Before you get on the bus to Machu Picchu you should address your fears.  If you are really afraid of heights, DO NOT sit on the right side of the bus going up.  When you look out the window, you see nothing but air.  If you are afread of head-on collisions, don't sit on the left side of the bus because around every corner, there could be another bus coming straight at you.  Fortunately, the uphill bus has the right of way and the down hill bus has to back up.  That is truly comforting....until you are on the downhill bus!