Exploring Cusco and the Surrounding Area

It was a bright and beautiful day in Cusco. We got more than 5 hrs of sleep and it felt good. After breakfast, we rendezvoused with Jose, our guide, and loaded on the bus for a short trip to El Mercado Central. After getting a briefing from Jose, we proceeded through the market to see all the individual vendors with all of their products, ranging from bread to fruit to flowers to meat to crafts – you name it. We partook of a few things and then loaded back on the bus for a trip into the Andean highlands.

Our first destination was Chinchero, an indigenous village where the old textile practices are being kept alive. We had an in-depth explanation of the various weaving and knitting techniques and then engaged with the artisans in negotiations for their wares. On the bus again, we headed down a dirt road for Moray. After getting a little sideways on a muddy spot and having the second water balloon of the trip pelt our bus, we arrived safely at the Moray archaeological site. The spectacle that we beheld was impressive – a large round terraced crater with 12 levels. The terraces were used for farming and the whole complex was believed to be an Incan crop laboratory of sorts. We learned that traces of about 250 cereals and vegetables have been found there. It was a marvel of engineering with the ancient retaining walls holding back the slope for centuries. Altogether, the sight of this ancient wonder nestled amidst the productive and beautiful Andean highlands was very memorable.

We partook of lunch at Tunupa Restaurant in Sinchu, an old hacienda on the banks of the Urumbamba River. We ate on the patio, enjoying authentic Peruvian cuisine, the beautiful weather, and Andean music . Tyler shunned the beef heart kabobs, and instead enjoyed seconds of cow tongue, thinking it was the best roast beef he’d ever had. Our next stop was Ollantaytambo, an ancient Incan village alongside a temple complex that was in progress at the time that the Spaniards arrived. We climbed hundreds of steps and took some breaks along the way, listening in rapt attention as Jose described everything that he knew about the culture, the structures, and their uses. Agriculture was a prominent part of the discussion, as we observed the granaries on the opposing mountainside uniquely positioned for natural ventilation. At the top, we observed the temple of the sun and moon and learned how the Incans marked time by observing where the rising sun came up with respect to their markers on the opposite mountain. We learned more about Incan numerology and symbolism, and how their settlements were aligned with the heavens and mountains to help them plant before the annual rainy season started.

On our way out, we visited an Incan house that has been continuously occupied for over five hundred years, noting the signs of their culture, and we also got our first look at Cuy (big guinea pigs) being raised in their homes for food. Yum! Down the road, we stopped at a pottery shop and learned how the local pottery is made, pottery that is microwave safe, non-toxic, and strong enough to hammer in nails. (Yes, he showed us!) On our way back, we saw Huaipo Lake, more villages, local agriculture, and had some great discussions. A wonderful dinner awaited us at our hotel, along with additional adventures in the city, for those properly acclimated to the altitude and feeling healthy.

Submitted by John Schaap, Jonalee Henderson and Mike Mendes.