Day 92: Sacred Valley - Monday February 7, 2011

Our guide Fernando met us at our hotel in Urubamaba for Ollantaytambo and then Pisac. Both are major archaeological sights and have a living town. Ollantayambo was the last Inca stand and its successor is a living Inca village. Imperial Incan stonework & system were stopped in midstream when the Spanish invaded. One can see how the stonework was done slightly roughly in the quarries on the other side of the river, and transported on ramps of stone and sand. The Imperial granaries, waterworks, and terracing practices were in evidence. The living town was built on the foundations of the original town and some of the original houses are still occupied. We went into one of these original houses. It seems that today’s family lives much like its ancestors. We enjoyed watching their kittens play with their cuyes (guinea pigs).

We stopped for some tasty Chicha at Fernando’s favorite stop and he knows his Chicha. His mom supported 6 kids over 50 years by making Chicha. We were shown the entire chicha making process (like beer) and had a couple of liters between us. I liked the sour and tangy original and Carol & Justin preferred the strawberry flavored type. We had lunch in Pisac. I had delicious lamb seco.

The Pisac archaeological site was mostly pre-Inca. The population voluntarily joined the Inca Empire in its early stages and enjoyed some of its benefits. We looked across a canyon to their graveyard. That was an opportunity to delve into their beliefs with Fernando providing living knowledge.

We will continue to investigate the pre-Inca civilization tomorrow as we go to Lake Titicaca.