Thoughts..
It seems I can barely keep up with my writing...and miss writing about so many things...we are bombarded by sights & experiences constantly and feel like we're in fast forward...and loving it!!! We do miss our family & friends lots and love hearing from them via email.
Morning Walk in Aguas Caliente
With no real plans until our 2:30 train trip, we decided to meander toward a botanical garden our hotel clerk told us about. We discovered an array of interesting things on the way...light poles made out of railroad rails stamped 1926...a bird on a nest just inches above the roaring river...huge marble slabs fallen from the mtn above...gravel quarry...an old lady sitting on the tracks in what seemed like the middle of no where selling snacks so we bought candy bars. When we finally found the botanical garden at the end of an unworn path, the mossy steps, rickety handrail & mosquitoes made us question going in. As we tried to decide, a guy showed up asking for $4 each--we said no & he then asked for $2 which made us wonder if he was even official. So in the end, we turned back. On the way back we made a point of noticing the huge variety of flowers & flora we passed. Guess we did see a "botanical garden" after all!
Run to the Train Station
We dawdled around our hotel playing on computers & watching TV while we waited for the rain to stop. It lightened up but we thought it would quit so we waited. Someone noticed the time--2:00 so we had to take off quickly to make the train. Just as we stepped out the door, it started to pour llamas & alpacas!!! We put on our ponchos & covered up our suitcases and took off down the hill arriving just in time to board our train. Ironically, it was the same scenario as when we arrived.
Peru
On our train ride, we had a nice visit (between being awed by the passing views) with a gal from Peru who has lived in US for the last 7 yrs. She said things have really improved in Peru though there are still many poor. The economy is stable and there is less unemployment. So far, we have seen old & poorly construction...obviously no building codes...but not trash. Our taxi driver, Domingo was 21 and studying to be a tour guide. Though his spoke some English, trying to carry on a conversation was, as Elsi said, like playing charade. None the less, we did learn lots from him & we taught him some too! He said all kids K-12 are taught English every year. He will need 3 yrs University to be a guide, teachers & nurses need 5 and doctors & engineers need 6. He explained that the many unfinished houses were because they might want to build on later. We asked about the tall bamboo sticks with red plastic bags tied on the top in front of some houses. We learned that's where chichi (corn liquor) was ready to sell. As always, Roger asked about # of tractors. Domingo said there's 1 tractor for about 10 - 12 farmers. It was a sunny Sunday and we enjoyed seeing central parks full of people and lots of soccer games being played in the shade of the mountains.
Cusco Epiphany & Museums
We're back in the Royal Inca hotel. Everyone here was celebrating the Epiphany carrying around baskets with dolls depicting Jesus in them. The dolls were dressed in various ornate & detailed outfits which were being sold on the street. After a good night's sleep, we took off to hit the museums. After having been to Machu Picchu & Ollantaytambo, all the ruins & information we read was so fascinating. One museum was the original site of the Inca Sun Temple that was mostly destroyed by the Spanish who built a church there using some of the Inca structure. Another showed the chronilogical events from 15000 BC to 1600AD comparing different parts of the world. We learned about Tupac Amaru who 250 yrs after the Spanish took control, tried to re-instate the Inca rule. A clergy sat next to a cross as he was quartered in Cusco. When the clergy tried to return the cross, the nuns refused to accept it. We also read about deVega who wrote a detailed book about the history of the Inca. Most disgusting were some skulls showing how some royal babies' heads were bound so they were disfigured & could wear special head dresses. My favorite was about Pachacutec's (Inca leader) life. These words written on one display seemed to sum up so many of the feelings we'd been having about this great leader & the Inca people: Early in the 15th century, Pachacutec stamped his mark of genius on Machu Picchu...the Inca's heart beats in each rock of the sacred city and in the hearts of people all over the world. It now beats in ours.
