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Peru - Girls on the Go 2022
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Peru - Girls on the Go 2022

Superexcited to meet Annette in Lima for an ADVENTURE!! Read more
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  • StrangeNewWorldsPeru - Girls on the Go 2022Traveler
    If you look closely, you can see extensive earthquake damage to the church, which is unsafe for use
    Alpaca dressed up for pictures with the touristsExtensive terracing, most of which pre-dates the IncasColca valley, with it's namesake river belowAlpaca, just hanging out

    Yanque and Colca valley

    May 22, 2022 in Peru ⋅ ⛅ 32 °F

    We stopped in a small town in the Colca valley. While there was some interesting history, all I could think was "tourist trap". The dance is Quechua, called Wipiti, where the male warriors dressed and danced like women to confuse the enemy. The Franciscans came and built a church atop a Quechua holy site and proselytized in Quechuan ... but the Incan religious leaders used a different language for worship entirely. The two religions coexisted and to some extent melded in the region. I also included some random Colca valley pictures and a couple of alpaca 🦙 we saw along the way.
    ,    Read more

  • StrangeNewWorldsPeru - Girls on the Go 2022Traveler
    Annette, bundled up and freezingIf you zoom in on this shot from below, you can see the yellow GIS tag used to monitor them

    Mirador Cruz del Condor

    May 22, 2022 in Peru ⋅ ⛅ 45 °F

    We made it to Colca Canyon this morning, and got a great view of several Andean Condors, the largest flying bird in the world. They were spectacular, and seemed to have a sixth sense: none would be seen for 15-20', then as we were walking back to the bus they would suddenly appear as if to taunt us. We never did see one flap a wing; they just glided on the air currents.Read more

  • StrangeNewWorldsPeru - Girls on the Go 2022Traveler
    On the far right are the vendors that forced me to adopt fluffy1My fluffy -and as yet nameless- alpaca

    Lagunillas

    May 23, 2022 in Peru ⋅ ☀️ 48 °F

    Today was a travel day. About 15 hours of travel, mostly by bus to get from Arequipa to Cuzco. We did stop at Lagunillas, near Puno and Lake Titicaca for a pit stop, where I met my "fluffy.". He is entirely too cute, and desperately in need of a name. Any ideas?Read more

  • StrangeNewWorldsPeru - Girls on the Go 2022Traveler

    Basilica Catedral

    May 24, 2022 in Peru ⋅ ☀️ 55 °F

    Interesting tour of the Basilica here in Cuzco. There is a famous art school here and it's work is all over Peru. The paintings/sculptures are described as "Andean Baroque", and we're painted in the era of the Renaissance, and in much the same style. The artwork is all original, and the painters were largely Quechuan. But, because the painters were a conquered people, there are often hidden Inca symbols. In a very famous last supper representation, the face of Judas was a likeness of Pizarro. Subtle resistance. Sadly, no photos of the artwork permitted.Read more

  • StrangeNewWorldsPeru - Girls on the Go 2022Traveler
    The map of the Incan world, centered in Cuzco
    Nice view of the Incan stone baseJust a pretty courtyard

    Convento de Santo Domingo del Cusco

    May 24, 2022 in Peru ⋅ ⛅ 68 °F

    Another convent, this one with a setup for tourists explaining how the Incan stone architecture underlies pretty much all of the churches and old buildings in Cusco. Once you know what to look for, you realize it's EVERYWHERE. In the many earthquakes, the Incan stonework survives; the newer construction collapses regularly (it turns out that arches don't hold up well against earthquakes). Cuzco is described as the bellybutton of the Incan world. There was a cool representation of Incan settlements, radiating out from Cuzco. They extend up to Ecuador and down into Argentina. How in the world could the Inca plot it out so exactly? Still thinking aliens! 👽Read more

  • StrangeNewWorldsPeru - Girls on the Go 2022Traveler

    Saqsaywaman

    May 24, 2022 in Peru ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F

    This archaeological site was built by the Inca in the 15th century, and is known for its truly massive boulders that are cut and fit together precisely without mortar. There is no quarry nearby, and the Inca did not have the wheel. Some of these blocks of stone near 200 tonnes! I looked at Annette and we said together: "Aliens"Read more

  • StrangeNewWorldsPeru - Girls on the Go 2022Traveler
    This shows the running water of a fountain

    Tambomachay

    May 24, 2022 in Peru ⋅ ⛅ 48 °F

    This was an Incan site just outside of Cuzco, with a series of aqueducts, canals and waterfalls fed by springs. Sadly, this was at the end of the day and we were fast losing daylight. We saw a small portion of it, and didn't get a lot of information about it's history. Very pretty, though!Read more

  • StrangeNewWorldsPeru - Girls on the Go 2022Traveler
    Yup- we were the only ones from our tour group to climb to the top
    Entrance to PisaqThe holes across the canyon are tombsThe fancy, modern stonework at the topVery close to the top; a quick stop to pant a while1The view from the top!If you stop too long, you find yourself posing with a baby alpaca...

    Pisaq

    May 25, 2022 in Peru ⋅ ☁️ 46 °F

    Built in 1380, Pisaq pre-dates Machu Picchu by approx 100 yrs. Housed 14,000 people-6x more than Machu Picchu. The "higher tech" polygonal style was only at the top (highest ranking people), and built later. Most construction was the older cellular style of stonework. And yes, Annette and I climbed all the way to the tippy top...just because.Read more

  • StrangeNewWorldsPeru - Girls on the Go 2022Traveler
    Yes, we made it to the top!
    The view from up there!These protrusions are thought to serve a calendar function based on their shadows.Check out how smooth the "groove" is to fit the stones together!Checking out the "wares" on the way back to the tour van

    Ollantaytambo

    May 25, 2022 in Peru ⋅ ☁️ 55 °F

    This site was part of our Sacred Valley tour, and was one of the final strongholds of the Inca against the Spaniards in the mid-1500s, and in fact was the site of a major (if temporary) victory against them in 1536. It was stunningly built, again with huge and well-fitted stones that seem impossible from their level of technology.Read more

  • StrangeNewWorldsPeru - Girls on the Go 2022Traveler
    One of the best examples I saw of a Catholic church overlaid upon an Incan holy site.
    The walk up the hill...Not steep at...(huff, puff, gasp) all!Ancient stonework underlying and surrounding the current church

    Chinchero

    May 25, 2022 in Peru ⋅ ☁️ 50 °F

    This was another church, but was a particularly good example of the Spanish placement of a church atop an existing Incan holy site, and the overlay of Catholicism on existing theology. This site was originally dedicated to worship Pachamama (perhaps best described as mother nature, or a goddess of fertility and renewal). The church was named Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de la Natividad (our Lady of the Nativity). It's foundation also clearly shows the original Incan stonework. Just for fun, it's altitude was at 12,400 feet- a fact we decidedly noticed on the walk up the hill!Read more

  • StrangeNewWorldsPeru - Girls on the Go 2022Traveler
    Our start point, as we crossed the Urubamba River, one of the sources of the Amazon.Chachabamba, our first Incan site. Comparatively small, but we learned to chew coca and it's roleAnnette modeling her cold weather gearAnnette getting schooled in chewing cocaI was amazed at how wet and tropical it was, with orchids, hummingbirds, etcWe came around a corner after a tough climb and voila! There was Winay Wayna. Jaw dropping.This smile was before I realized that we had to climb to the top of the thing!Gasping and wiped, but we mad it up 3 EVIL sets of stairsLeaving the WW area after lunchOne of two crossings over cliffs that were removed after the flight from the SpaniardsThe final climb to the Sun Gate- extremely steep steps nicknamed the Monkey StepsThe Sun GateThe hard won first view of Machu Picchu!

    Machu Picchu trek

    May 26, 2022 in Peru ⋅ ⛅ 48 °F

    We did a full day of the Inka Trail, arriving at Inti Punku (the Sun Gate) in the late afternoon for our first view of Machu Picchu from above. It was once the only entrance into the city, and the structure was aligned for the winter solstice and the sun temple in the city below. Our experience was about 7 miles and over 2000' of elevation gain. Fair to say that it kicked our butts. All that said, we had an amazing and patient guide, Santiago from Alpaca Expeditions, who spent both days with us and gave us a private tour. We couldn't have asked for better. When we needed to stop and gasp for a bit, he would point out wild orchids and tell us about the Inca and the places we were about to see. It was an AMAZING hike, with gorgeous and unexpected sights along the way and a feeling of sacredness as we crested the rise to see Machu Picchu spread out below us.Read more

  • StrangeNewWorldsPeru - Girls on the Go 2022Traveler
    Our first views, from near the Sun GateDid I mention that it had been a tough hike? We MIGHT have been a bit giddy...Watching it grow as we approached, and our awe at it's size!No words...Annette kept laughing at my fascination with irrigation, but 6 mi of irrigation atop a mountain!The river where we started is at the bottom of this canyon...wow!Looking back up at the Sun Gate

    Machu Picchu part 2

    May 26, 2022 in Peru ⋅ ⛅ 57 °F

    The evening views of Machu Picchu were spectacular as we descended into the outskirts of the city. We had not been particularly expeditious on the trek, so we were a little crunched to catch the light (and the docents were rushing us out, trying to close), but none of that detracted from the jaw-dropping scene before us. Machu Picchu is unique in that it was never discovered by the Spaniards, which makes it the purist example of Incan architecture and culture, although much is still speculation. Our guide believed it to be a spiritual retreat (much like a monastery), that was later used as a refuge for the holy women escaping the Spaniards approaching from Cuzco. I look forward to reading and learning more about this fascinating place.Read more

  • StrangeNewWorldsPeru - Girls on the Go 2022Traveler
    Did I mention we were socked in?Santiago telling stories as we waited for the clouds to liftClouds lifting. TONS of tourists! Grateful for the views from the previous day!Iconic viewMassive, fitted stoneSelfie!Temple of the sun- aligns with the Sun Gate we passed through on the solsticeThese terraces are SO steep!

    Machu Picchu- Day tour

    May 27, 2022 in Peru ⋅ ⛅ 55 °F

    The day started early, ahead of the crowds. What we didn't appreciate was that we would be socked in with clouds. So for the next couple of hours, Santiago, our fantastic guide, entertained us with stories of Hiram Bingham, the "discoverer" of Machu Picchu in 1911, the 12 year old that showed him around the site and helped clear areas for him to photograph and who is thought of almost as a patron saint of tour guides, the birds (we saw an Ibis, forest turkeys and many swallows), the park managers, etc until the clouds lifted enough for pictures. The 2 hour promised tour was more like 5, and INCREDIBLY thorough. I can't say enough good things about Alpaca Expeditions and Santiago.
    Amazing - this post can not possibly do it justice.    Read more

  • StrangeNewWorldsPeru - Girls on the Go 2022Traveler
    Home, sweet home

    Home

    May 30, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F

    I made it home yesterday after 3 flights (each with it's own baggage check in), a taxi, an Uber and a nice drive with Kevin...only to find all 3 boys + dog here for the long weekend!!! Woot woot! It was an amazing trip, and Annette did the Lion's share of planning. I can't thank her enough for her encouragement and persistence in making this trip happen. As a bit more of a homebody, it is sometimes hard to get me out the door, and I'm also always glad to get home. Two weeks is about my limit. Annette, on the other hand, continues her adventures! She stayed in Cuzco and continues to explore the amazing sights and culture of Peru. It's just about time to close out this log. Thank you to all of you who commented, and I hope you enjoyed sharing our journey!Read more

    Trip end
    May 29, 2022
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