Shopping at Pisac

On our last visit to Peru we visited the Sacred Valley and the adjoining town of Pisac, which isknow for its handicrafts and markets on Sundays. We decided that we had to go back - for a short shopping expedition!!! This turned out to be a full day expedition.

(Left - Liz, Gerard, Amanda and myself on the road overlooking the Sacred Valley)

Public Transport is not that prolific in Peru, so to get to Pisac it was a matter of arranging a taxi, which we did through the office. At 9.30am our cab arrived with a pre-arranged fare (again the norm in Peru to pre-arrange as there are no meters). Our fare was 60 Soles (about Aus dol 25

for the 1 hour trip.

(Right - having our own cab meant that he would stop for photos if necessary - here high above the valley floor)

(Left - this area was hit very hard in the recent mud slides - this is part of the remains of a village which took the full force)

(Right - further up the valley is where the mud slide actually started - tearing away the whole cliff side)

(Left - reaching Pisac, the entry is via a narrow bridge across the river)

(Right - it is not only narrow - it is 2 way!! Which makes for polite drivers)

(Left - we had a morning cup of tea and later our lunch at a place called the Blue Lama - they had wonderful decorations around the wall)

(Right - Amanda, Gerard and Liz in the Blue Lama)

(Left - Not only are the restaurant walls decorated, but so are the toilet walls - have a look at these -women's on the left)

(Right - decoration on the wall in the men's toilet!!)

(Left - the market at Pisac covers fruit and vegetable as well as handicrafts)

(Right - the market covers the whole square, and is set up each Saturday morning, and dismantled that evening. It is mostly covered)

(Left - one of the market lanes - note the channel in the middle of the path - for heavy rains)

(Right - as well as normal knitted and manufactured handicrafts there are a number of shops selling paintings - and they are very nice)

(Left - in one shop Liz, Amanda and Gerald haggle over a price)

(Right - Gerald haggles over some socks - would up with four pairs in the end)

(Left - Liz tries to negotiate a better price)

(Right - as you can see our day was quite successful - in supporting the Peruvean economy)

(Left - on the journey home - we negotiated a fare with another cabbie of Sol 35 - almost half the price of the morning's cab - but we think his last job was speed way driving as he kept the same speed ALL the way home - corners and all!! But we did see some of the un-repaired parts of the road - result of the earlier mud slides, which narrow the road to a single lane!)

Inca Ruin - Saqsaywaman (Sexy-Woman)

Saqsaywamen (which we all remember as Sexy Woman to help with the pronunciation) was an important Inca site.

(Left - the first siting of the area which sits on the hills surrounding Cusco - which in its original day was the Capital of the Inca empire)

Around the central area were constructed a variety of structures. Many of these are still being unearthed.

(Right - the rock walls on the far side fit perfectly together, with even a piece of paper unable to be fitted between. These walls were constructed so that the sun's shadow would describe the dates on the Inca calender)

During the June festival of Inti Raymi this area is central, and features the main parts of the ceremonies.

(Left the angles of the walls provide the shadows, indicating the

dates and seasons)

(Right - nearby is the white statue overlooking Cusco - Blanco Christo)

(Left - the enormity of the rocks can be gauged by the people standing on the top)

(Right - Amanda stands in front of the walls. In this one, it is said that the rocks make the shape of a llama, with the main part of the body behind Amanda's back, the tail to the right, and the head on the left - you need good imagination)

(Left - this archway leads to the upper area - again close fitting rocks)

(Right - Looking back across the central flat area - Cusco is behind us)

(Left - Away in the distance is a snow capped peak, part of the Andes)

(Right - Excavations continue on the higher areas, revealing more Inca ruins)

(Left - more Inca ruins being uncovered)

(Right - looking down on the main Plaza of Cusco)

(Left - our group at the top - me, Gerard, Amanda, Liz and Maz)

Inca Ruin - Qenqo

At the end of our horse ride we walked to another nearby Inca ruin, that of Qenco, which is an immense carved rocky promontory of steps, holes and canals, surely made to deposit chicha (veberage of maize) that was consumed in the Inca ritual. We can find, a semicircular patio defined by an isometric parameter with several great niches that surround to a stone or wanka of little thickness locked up in an enclosure, is a luck of image within its own chapel.

During the Inca time this place was a temple for public ceremonies. It has an enormous semicircular area of 55 meters in length with 19 distributed incomplete niches throughout the wall. In some publications say that the niches were arranged around the

amphitheatre as seats for the most important people that were worship, but according to recent investigations it is very probable that in fact they have been the bases of a great wall. In front of the clear area there is a great stone block of 6 meters of height that rests on a solid rectangular pedestal. It is possible that it has been a gigantic sculpture that must have had zoomorfas modelings. The lack of precision, must to

the signs of the destruction caused by the extirpadores of idolatries (people in charge to eliminate the own icons of the local cult) during the Colony. It owns in addition a decorated rocky projection with a passage that leads to an underground room, a complex of platform, rooms and a system of drainage channels destined to evacuate the water of the place

The underground chamber
The working of the rock realised here is all a feat. Floors, ceilings, walls, altars and n iches, carefully were worked on the alive rock. Without a doubt, it was a place of cult for secret and hidden rites. The constructors of the place completed its composition with rooms on watch in the perimeter. It owns in addition platform and channels for the evacuation to the rainwater.

The vast grounds lead to a small bridge leaving the site.

(Right - Our guide leads the way to the bridge)

(Left - looking back at the pile of rocks which comprise Qenqo)

(Right - we are on the outskirts of Cusco, down in the valley below - across to the hills on the other side are the symbols of the town)

Horse Riding - Back Down the Hill

Having finished the inspection of the Inca ruins here, it was back to the horses (who had waited patiently), and set off down the hill - perhaps with a little more confidence this time.

(Left - our horses were waiting where we left them)

(Right - Maz prepares to mount)

(Left - I think she is still not sure!!)

(Right - Liza is full of confidence!!)

(Left - Amanda looks back)

(Right - all together we head off for the home ward stretch - and the horses didn't need any instruction!!)

(Left - the scenery on the ride down is breathtaking)

(Right - at the end of the ride we found the loacl people drying out potatoes. Perus has around 2000 variety of potatoes)

(Left - Potatoes by the score)

(Left - a short movie of our ride down)