The 7 are the great wall of China, Petra in Jordan, Christ the Redeemer in Rio, Machu Picchu, Chichen Itza in Mexico, Colosseum in Rome and the Taj Mahal. This shat the Egyptians off so much that the Great Pyramid was added as an honoroury member.So we have seen 4 on this trip, which will also include 6 continents by the time we get home, although Africa is represented onñy by 2 daytrips to Alexandria. OK enough bragging.
J headed off on her 13 hour extravaganza of ruins, following about 6 hours yesterday. I toiled mightily, booking a bus and hostel for tomorrow and researching beach villages for later in the week. This left me time to squeeze in a 3 hour massage ($40). I started with a hard Swedish and a hot rock treatment (mmmmm) then the masseuse took a break and sent in a mischievous minx, from whom I was saved only by my iron determination and the chilly room. (Hmmmm)
Sacred Valley Tour
J writes: We had barely got above the Cusco hills when the bus stopped. Seems it ran out of petrol. What to do ..... flag down a tanker, fill a 10 litre bucket with fuel, turn your newspaper into a funnel and pour it into the tank. Guess what .... it worked and we continued on our way. Only in South America.
This is my new friend George (again with the western names - todays guide is William). He joined us at our first stop today - the craft market, he and his 4 sons are musicians. Interesting chap who sat next to me on the bus for the next leg of the trip. Fields of corn in the valley below. Peru has 55 types of corn, from tiny to huge and many colours from yellowish to black. Over 300 types of potatoes. All of which came from Inca times as they seemed to have tinkered in genetics.
Pisac (below) terraces and housing village above.
Pisac - each cave in the hillside contained a mummy.
Pisac township - the red flags on bamboo poles (below) indicate that alcohol is sold there. Pre literacy this was how seller advertised products. Green meant Coca leaves, woven plate - bread etc etc.
Great snake drainage
I love these souped up motorbike taxis
A real Inca king at the gates of Ollayantambo
The large buildings on the hillsides were food storage warehouses. Very windy spot, high in mountains. Tests have revealed storage would have been a max of 4 degrees year round.
Below shows a defensive wal l(one of the only ones at an Inca site) that was constructed because the Spanish Conquistadores were fast approaching. The stone work lower in the picture is of housing. Small stones used in housing - large granite stones used in temples or special buildings only.
Sun temple - never completed as over run by the Spanish
Mountains opposite Ollayantambo has 2 faces carved into it. This bearded face with 3 stones above head as crown.
and this more Indian looking one who is facing where the sun rises.
Ollayantambo - terraces rising to where the accommdation and temple is, with mountain range behind.
Chinchero women demonstating dying and weaving techniques
The impressive guinea pig house. All guinea pigs are extremely nervous in these countries. And these ones are kept right next to the stove. Eww.
Interesting occurrence this morning - I chanced into Stephie on Skyp. She was frantic because the handles came off the door that separates the front of our house from the back. She needs to be able to shut Lissa out of the front rooms. We played around in words until she had the insight to switch to video and show me the pieces she had. In fact all we needed to do was unscrew one of the knobs off its base plate and the apparatus could be reassembled and screwed into place. A remarkable example of Trans-Pacific engineering.
We are going to eat in again tonight to avoid walking around in the dark and to use up some accumulated food. Last night there was a professional Pom chef at work in the kitchen, which was interesting to watch.
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