The Sacred Valley

Even though the Cusco Peru area is in the clouds (Cusco is at around 11,000 feet above sea level) it is close enough to the equator that it seldom snows or freezes. The train we took to Machu Picchu on Saturday actually descends from Cusco, and that descent is through something the Inca's called the sacred valley. It was considered sacred because the sacred Urubamba river (the one that flows around Machu Picchu) runs through it. The river, which runs parallel to the milky way that was visible in the heavens, was considered its husband. On Sunday, after a wonderful church meeting in the morning, we boarded a bus and drove through the Sacred valley to visit various archeological sites.

On the way we stopped at a park dedicated to the cameloids of Peru (Llamas, Alpacas, Vicuna's etc.). We got to feed them, learn how they are used by native peoples, watch their fur being spun, dyed, and woven. There were children and women from various villages demonstrating how they made cloth and woven goods out of their fur.

Then we visited a wonderful archeological site called Pisaq which is a wonderful example of Incan agriculture. The terraced hillsides created various microclimates on which different crops were grown. Their marvelous stone-work was put to good use in creating beautiful homes, temples, and granaries clinging to the face of the mountains.


We went to visit their Sunday market down in the village of Pisaq. In addition to the normal tourist stalls the Sunday market is where the villagers from the surrounding mountains come to sell and buy. We saw every kind of fruit, vegetable, meats etc.

Finally we visited the ruins of Ollantaytambo. It is an another incredible archeological site iwith a "granary" that looks like a Roman ruin.