Puma Marca - Walking back to Cusco from the School

We bounce up and back to the school in the back of a combi van!! The trip takes about 30 mins. Going up is literally "UP", and down is "DOWN". So at my age and condition I decided that for a break I would make the walk DOWN! This takes about 90 mins, and is interesting.

(Left - I am not sure how many times I have seen this pig - always tethered by the road side - I think he was there 2 years ago on my last visit)

(Right - a local farmer works on his adobe mud bricks. All of the houses in the community are made from these bricks. The dirt is everywhere, and the mud and mixed straw are prepared by the farmers. The moulds shape the bricks and the sun does the rest. Bricks are turned every few days, and weigh a lot. I would estimate each brick to weigh aver 2 kgs)

(Left - On my last visit in 2008 these main street water supplies were the main source of water for the locals, who would bucket it down to their houses. Since then an international effort has brought running water to the local homes)

(Right - the main street in Ouma Marca - there is one main street and several small ones running off to reach the outlying ones)

This time over there I did the walk down 3 times. These are some of the sights seen on the walk.

(Left - this water channel runs from the mian reservoir - however, it is far from clean - at least for non-locals)

(Right - the view from the mian street over the valley)


(Left - the valley view - beautiful - if you aren't struggling on the bread line)

(Right - an intrusive view into a back yard, and the world wide occurence of the weekly wash out on the line)


(Left - this is the workshop of the local carpenter - his shed contains all the equipment, so the wood supplies stand outside. Timber is NOT seasoned here, and you buy the oldest lot in the yard, to try to get the driest possible. Hence warping or twisting is a real problem in contruction - but not insurmountable!)

(Right - under local rules residents are entitled to a plot of land, which they use for gardening - but generally for sale - and not for their own personal use)

(Left - the open door and signs above the door indicate one of the local shops)

(Right - Puma Marca lies on one side of the valley - here we look across to the next village slope)



(Left - the washing on the balcony hangs above the corn drying in the sun)

(Right - public transport is not common in Puma Marca, so each day these taxis travel up and down from Cusco for the locals who can afford the trip. Cost is about 1 soles (about 40c Aust), and the taxis take ALL who want to travel - so you could wind up sharing the cab with others - we have seen 3 layers of people sitting on the back seats - adults with others on their laps!!)

(Left - a shop of a different kind - the red flag indicates that alcohol is available here)

(Right - these terra cotta animals are a good luck symbol and found on most rooves)

(Left - a site I saw occasionally - the farmer with his bullocks ploughing the field)

(Right - a distant view of the famer and the large task ahead of him)


(Above - the farmer with his reluctant team at work)

(Right - the end of the walk - back in Cusco)

(Left - couldn't resist this - the yellow dome in the middle is the safety helmet of a worker digging a hole - that is how deep it is! Not sure why he was digging it - by hand - but 2 days later it had been filled in!!)