Travel - Peru

Peru
There is something very spiritual about Peru. Perhaps it is the ancient cultures of which evidence abounds as we take in the sites of Machu Pucchu, breathe the air and walk the ground where the Incas lived so many centuries ago. Or, it could be the people. Peruvian friends, Edwardo and Estella, picked us up from the airport and then had us over for an authenic Peruvian dinner. Almost their entire extended family had dinner with us. I had to hunt for my twelve year old daughter Lucy and when found with new Peruvian girlfriends in the apartment complex, everyone harangued me until I agreed that she could stay until 11:00 p.m. Everywhere we turned there was kindness, culture and fun.

From Left: My sister Maria with husband Kevin, Peruvian friends Estalla and Edwardo, Topanien Gifts ower Nadine (me) with husband Dave.

Machu Picchu

Above picture is from a non-traditional vantage point to give you a slightly different view of Machu Picchu; beautiful from all angles.

Transportation around Uros.

Uros

Uros. located in Lake Titicaca, is an island of reeds about 3 meters thick and floating on Lake Titicaca at almost 13,000 feet. The Uros people maintain their island home by continually stacking more Totora Reeds on top of the island.

Note: We set off on our Lake Titicaca trip from Puno, a city at approximately 12,500 feet. The alititude sickness wears off after a good nights sleep and many cups of Coca tea.

Preparing a meal.

One of many sacred places on Machu Picchu.

Ollantaytambo

Lucy and Sabine, owner's daughters, are shown here with their cousins and friend inside ruins at the base of Ollantaytambo. Try to get your mouth around that word!

Market Day

Pisac Ruins

We are in the Sacred Valley of the Incas and climbing up the Pisac Ruins. Here we have reached the first plateau, or, resting point. We have Peruvian friend Edwardo with his two children and wife, myself, Nadine owner of Topanien Gifts with my husband and two girls and my sister Maria with her family and our friend Andrew. Oh, plus our guide Dante who is giving us a wealth of information about each place we visit - all in Spanish or, as the Peruvians would tell us,
- He is speaking in Castellano!

Taquile - Hats

Men beware. You must have the correct hat and it must be worn correctly to show whether you are single or married. As Andrew was the only unmarriend man in our party this Quechua woman was making sure that his hat was perfect.

Men must wear their hat correctly.

Now we know that he is single.

Temple De Wiracocha

According to the ancient chroniclers, a stranger began performing miracles, causing wonder but also fright. The villagers decided to stone him to death but found him kneeling with is arms extended skyward. A fire rain began to fall. The remorseful villagers let the man go and the Wiracocha shrine was then built in his memory. (It is thought that there was a volcanic eruption causing the fire rain as there is a great quanity of dried lava in the area.)

Temple De Wiracocha

The ruins of the Temple of Wiracocha are located in the community of Raqchi in the Southern Mountain region of Peru. The picture that you see to the left of these words shows the cental wall which is twelve meters high. On both sides of the central wall there are bases of 22 columns built to support a thatch roof. This edifice is staggering in its height, immensity and power.

Travel Pages:
*Nadine, (Topanien Gift's Owner) Peru Trip
*Alpaca Wall Hangings, Peru
*Jewelry Suppliers, Taxco
*Alebrijes, Oaxaca
*Nadine, (Owner of Topanien Gifts) in Mexico
*Wall Hangings, Kashmir, India

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Travel with us

Transportation around Uros.

Preparing a meal.

Market Day