Sexy Woman (Saksaywaman)

Sept. 3
On our last tour in Cusco we visited the Saksaywaman ruins. Our guide said the easy way to remember it is to think of sexy woman. He probably gets tired of telling that joke. Cusco was the center of the Inca empire. When the Spanish conquered them, the tore down their structures and built over them.












Inside the labirinth where they had animal sacrifices








Inside the cathedral are many paintings that the Incas did by copying existing European paintings. However, they put their own touches to them. For example, the last supper is a guinea pig.




Temple of the sun is the round part. The Spanish built over it.




This girl had a school project on recycling
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Machu Picchu

Sept 1
We drove to Ollantaytambo this morning where we boarded the train to Machu Picchu. Machu Pichu was "discovered" by Hiram Bingham, a Yale professor in 1911. Kind of like Columbus discovered America. Locals knew of its existence and a professor in Cusco knew about it as well. Not that much is know about it since the Incas did not have a written language. Our hotel is is much nicer than the one in Pisac. We liked the Pisac Inn location, but there was no heat, or warm water in the wash basin. The Machu Picchu room has a huge jacuzzi tube, however, it faces the railroad. Tomorrow is Cusco, then home.












This is the end of the Inca trail. We look pretty good after hiking for four days.
















This rock replicates the mountains.



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Ollantaytambo

August 31
We went to Ollantaytambo today to see the Inca ruins. They were built to worship the sun god.






Mom was lagging behind and I suggested she wait for us. She wanted to get to the top.


Proof that she made it.


The sun shines thru the eye on the winter solstice, which is June 21.


And the sun shines on this rectangle as well.




Inca village below.


Traditional "Chifa" dinner. 100,000 Chinese laborers cam in the late 1800's. There are now 5 million, or 20% os the people that have some Chinese blood.

Sacred Valley of the Incas

August 30
Today we went to Ollantaytambo valley where we drove up a dirt road to 12,000 ft to visit with an Inca farm family. We were the only ones on the tour. People do this tour only a few times a month. It was like the home stay we had in I had alpaca steak for dinner. It tastes and looks like beef.







These women were repairing the road that was damaged by a rain storm a few days ago. The men were at work as porters carrying gear for people hiking the Inca trail. The trail is 24 miles and takes four days.



The girl is 3 months and the boy was 4. He followed us around. I taught the boy how to count to 3.



Guinea pigs


Note the hanging birds.


This is where they cook



They own a lot of land.



We picked up a cook in town. He made quinoa soup, rice and chicken. We'll try and make the soup when we get home.


The local guide, who was also the cook brought food to pass out. I think this is for the intrusion. The travel company also has built schools and provided doctors for the people.


The people have natural rosy cheeks.

Location:Pardo,Pisac,Peru

Peru

August 27
We went on a tour of Plaza Island. This is the dry season so it looks like a desert. We saw more iguanas, sea lions and birds. It was a long boat ride and a few people got sea sick. We had the acupressure wrist bands and took pills so we were OK. There was a Chinese doctor on board who was into photographing birds. He said he didn't believe in acupuncture or herbs because there have not been any scientific studies that prove it works. There was also a British family of four. Still no Americans.



None of the animals are afraid of people. They are all protected and you are not supposed to feed them.


Mom is standing next to our guide Valentin. He looks like Richard Gere.



August 28
We went to the Charles Darwin Research Station. They breed tortoises and iguanas here since the introduced species will get the eggs and kill the young. When they are big enough they are released. We saw where Lonesome George lived. He was the last of his species because he wasn't interested in breeding. they tried to do it artificially, but that didn't work either. We then flew to Lima.





They look like potato bugs. The tortoises are numbered in different colors so they can go back to the island where they came from. Incubation temperature determines the sex of the tortoise.
August 29
Our hotel was across the street from the airport. In the morning we flew to Cusco and then took a van to Pisac. We are at elevation 9,000 ft. It's cold and there is no heat in the inn. Mom had to buy a sweater. They said it was alpaca, but I don't think so. It was only $20.



Pisac valley.


Our inn is in the background. These people wanted money to take a picture. I held the camera at waist level so it wasn't obvious. I gave them a little anyway.








Coca tea is supposed to help you get used to the altitude.


Chicken soup for 6 sole, about $2.


We ate with the locals. Our dinner cost $20 soles (sun) which is about $7.

Galapagos

August 25
We are now in the Galapagos. It was a 4 hour flight with a short layover in Guayaquil. There are 14 islands and 42 rocks. The islands were formed by volcanic action. On the way to the hotel we saw turtles and a lava tube. The hotel is only accessible by boat.




Galapagos (giant) tortoise




August 26
Today we went to North Seymore Island. This is the first trip where we haven't met any Americans. On the boat with us were a Kiwi (New Zealand), Aussies, British and Peruvians. We were asked what state Washington DC was in.












Darwin Finch




Blue Footed Boobie








Male frigate showing off to attract a female.




Iguana. There are also sea iguanas.




Baby Boobie




Pelican.




We stopped off at this beach for snorkeling (except one)




The pelicans and seals are waiting for scraps at the fish market.




Lobster is in season. This only cost $25. We got this in town. Dinner is included at the hotel, so we will eat late tonight. Dinner doesn't start until 7:00.