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The Amazing New Adventures of Larry and Mark - Peru, Land of the Incas
On the Road to Saqsayhuaman
We are now on our way to our first archeological sites just above
Cusco. In Peru, they don't like to call them ruins anymore.
Saqsayhuaman is just outside Cusco, a mere 1,000 additional
breathless feet above - makes it about 12,000 feet.
We stop for a view over Cusco. You can get a feeling for the valley that the
city is in from this photo.
We are able to spot the Monasterio Hotel by the courtyard with the cedar tree in it.
One of the Andean women is there in full dress, with her llama, just waiting for people
like us with cameras and money.
Everyone got their picture taken with the woman, like this one with Mark and Helen.
I think this is the only photo with the woman smiling.
Just back up a little more, won't you?
Christo Blanco - White Christ - sits above Cusco, a gift from the Palestinian people
to the City of Cusco.
On the road to "Sexy woman," as Americans like to call the archeological site, we are driving
though the puna region. These open, tundralike grassy hillsides and plains extend from
snowline down to about 12,000 feet, (I'm getting this from Google!) are mostly covered with
yellow/tan "ichu grass." This grass is favorite food for the llamas and alpacas, and it is used
by roof thatch by the highland Peruvians.
The best thing the Spaniards brought to this region were the oxen. They learned how
to use the bulls to work the land easier. When a father builds a house, he puts
these images on the roof to protect the house:
The bulls work the land
The pot represents produce: corn beer chiche, and means
hope to have produce from Mother Earth - Pache Mama
The rooster, the dog
The light blue cross: heaven. This is a mix of Andean and Catholic religion
The ladder represents the path to heaven
We're at 12,000 feet here - remember?
I was out of breath just watching them!
Everywhere you go, the ornament is there.
More soon!
Larry Reich
You may reach me with comments:
Laurence Reich
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