January 30, 2011
Later on the same day as Market day
Ollantaytambo
From our Andean Adventure tour notes: "The village of Ollantaytambo retains the original street plan of the Incan town, making it the only surviving example of Incan urban planning." Preserved are irrigation systems, graneries, and the fortress temple. It is 9,160 ft. above sea level. For seaside Florida folks like us, keep walking SLOWLY.
Okay, this is where the tour became arduous. Key word from now on. Arduous. By the time I got home my legs looked like a sumo wrestler's.
From the Discovery book on Peru: "Ollantaytambo, strategically placed at the northern end of the Sacred Valley also has plazas with sacred niches, shrines, an area of stone stocks where prisoners were tied by their hands, and ritual shower areas, including the Princess's Bath."
I found this place inspiring. Luckily the sun was out so we could warm up, take our time and consider, once again, how clever the Peruvians to figure out this terrace-style agriculture plan on this steep, arduous mountain-side location. Reminded me of the terraced rice fields we've seen in beautiful Bali and China.
Good info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ollantaytambo
Travel tip: Like I said, if you fly into Cusco like we did and don't have a gradual ascent to get your body used to the thin air, the altitude can be challenging even if you take Diamox before and during your stay at altitude. We kept our little canister of oxygen with us all the time and drank lots of water. Our travel medicine doctor back home had told us to drink Gatorade, too. We also brought packets of a product called GU Electrolyte Brew and mixed it into our bottled water. Pack it in your checked bag. You never know what security will confiscate!)
Next stop: Chinchero - market; oldest church in Peru
Later on the same day as Market day
Ollantaytambo
From our Andean Adventure tour notes: "The village of Ollantaytambo retains the original street plan of the Incan town, making it the only surviving example of Incan urban planning." Preserved are irrigation systems, graneries, and the fortress temple. It is 9,160 ft. above sea level. For seaside Florida folks like us, keep walking SLOWLY.
Okay, this is where the tour became arduous. Key word from now on. Arduous. By the time I got home my legs looked like a sumo wrestler's.
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| Okay, one step at a time! Photo of Charlene Edge |
From the Discovery book on Peru: "Ollantaytambo, strategically placed at the northern end of the Sacred Valley also has plazas with sacred niches, shrines, an area of stone stocks where prisoners were tied by their hands, and ritual shower areas, including the Princess's Bath."
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| Ollantaytambo - view as approach from entrance. Photo by Charlene Edge |
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| See the face on the left? Grainery is on the right. This rock face was across the valley from where we stood on the Ollantaytambo ruins. Photo by Charlene Edge |
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| Terrace farming Photo by Charlene Edge |
I found this place inspiring. Luckily the sun was out so we could warm up, take our time and consider, once again, how clever the Peruvians to figure out this terrace-style agriculture plan on this steep, arduous mountain-side location. Reminded me of the terraced rice fields we've seen in beautiful Bali and China.
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| More terrace farming in perspective. Photo by Charlene Edge |
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| The show-off writer. Photo of Charlene Edge |
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| Hoyt Edge, the laughing professor. Photo by Charlene Edge |
Good info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ollantaytambo
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| Hey, nothing like it! Photo by Charlene Edge |
Travel tip: Like I said, if you fly into Cusco like we did and don't have a gradual ascent to get your body used to the thin air, the altitude can be challenging even if you take Diamox before and during your stay at altitude. We kept our little canister of oxygen with us all the time and drank lots of water. Our travel medicine doctor back home had told us to drink Gatorade, too. We also brought packets of a product called GU Electrolyte Brew and mixed it into our bottled water. Pack it in your checked bag. You never know what security will confiscate!)
Next stop: Chinchero - market; oldest church in Peru
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