In Cuzco we visited a colonial cathedral. Beautiful architecture.
Included was some interesting artwork that the Incans passive-aggressively inserted against the Spanish.
This is maybe the only statue of the Virgin Mary pregnant.
I am not happy with the quality of the photos in this blog, because in my photo you can actually see it, but you’ll have to trust me.
You see a triangle flap exposing the Virgin Mary’s breast while she holds baby Jesus; but there is an arc of milk from her breast, across the room to the holy person on his knees.
BIZAAR!
We saw a wall-sized painting of Jesus carrying the cross. Ordering him around are two Spanish conquistadors. We know they were actually Romans.
And another wall-sized painting of the last supper has a roast guinea pig on the table and Judas was dark-skinned and looked like one of their Spanish conquerors.
Peruvians seem to be passive-aggresive.
This was the Fortress of Sacsayhuaman. They had just had a huge annual Winter Solstice ceremony the day before we arrived and all this scaffolding held thousands of revelers.
These boulders were hauled from miles away and not one rock is the same size.
My question is who was in charge to be sure of THAT? The rocks fit so tightly, you can’t even slide a piece of paper between them.
And there’s always the argument whether it was Incan or pre-Incan. What’s the big deal?
Interestingly, this looks like the last 7th wonder of the world I have left to visit in Rio.
Everything was brown…..but it was winter.
My artsy picture. This might be the colonial cathedral. No photos allowed inside; so it’s like it didn’t happen for me. It was beautiful. And the rich people had a competition as to who could donate the most money to decorate the inside. That certainly works to the church’s advantage.
All over the world, women want their photos taken in beautiful clothes; and I can’t help but take their picture.
The cathedral.
Delicious mushroom pasta, vegetarian. I was just glad that I for sure wasn’t getting guinea pig!!
For the foodies, a pretty dessert. The bottoms were a sweet tomato! with a fruit compote.
So this is out of order but it’s overlooking the salt gathering system we saw the other day. A lot of man-made work just for salt!!
This man was being trained in the ways of pottery-making from centuries ago. WHY?? You got me. But they seem to think it was important.
I guess it’s like the blacksmiths who currently make things on a molten hot anvil at Pioneer Days in Barberville, FL.
Gate1 Tours fund schools in need in the countries they visit. This was a kindergarten, and they were HANDS ON!! Most told us in Spanish they planned on being doctors, nurses, vets, astronauts. The teacher, in English, told us this will probably never happen due to the poverty of the area. So sad.
Here’s the landscape I remember most.
These people had just celebrated the Winter Solstice and now they were digging a hole, making a fire and burning potatoes as a thank you to the Gods for their great harvest.
This was the largest Incan Temple ever discovered — Temple Wiracocha. They stored food in these tall stone buildings. Much of the stone of the buildings have been dismantled to use to make homes for the locals.
Here is where I was dreading — 14,222 feet above sea level. WOW! You knew something was screwed up with your breathing, but at least I had lost the headache and didn’t throw up.
The altitude causes digestive problems, and you could often HEAR the liquid in my stomach sloshing around, which caused me to eat only half meals in the event of big problems — especially on a 9 hour bus ride.
I am am DEFINITELY NOT a high altitude girl!
Bathrooms were pitiful. We rarely found toilet paper, the soap pumps were disgustingly filthy and there were never towels. To top it off, this bathroom cost of 1 sol each — about a quarter.
I discovered the pashminas with the pictures of the Nazca lines and all four of us bought one. They may have been made of baby alpaca, but I continued to eat little threads and fluff coming off this thing for the rest of the trip. I am too afraid to wash it yet, but hoping the fluff will decrease.
The joke in Peru is that what they claim is Baby Alpaca is actually Maybe Alpaca.
Peru and the Andes in Winter.
World’s smallest active volcano. About ten feet tall.
Safe Travels!
Linda Jeanne