Salkantay

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      Salkantay trail is mountain beauty beyond belief. There maybe more that are even more beautiful, but for being in the Andes in the Peruvian mountain side hiking and camping is amazing. Day one starting off with a bus ride from Cuzco to the starting location for the hike being dropped off and having lunch. Got an idea of where and how long to the first campsite during eating. The hike was nice and easy. Mostly road way to the campsite and along the way local huts along the mountain with an occasional truck or vehicle that passes by. There was also a small hotel that we passed by as we hiked to the campsite. The campsite consisted of a simple wood rods, metal sheets for the roof, and tarp walls which is really warm considering how cold it got that night. There was no more than a mile or two distance from the snowy tops of the mountain nearby and the campsite. Night time got to feel about 32 F. It as warmer in the camping hut then outside which I thought was amazing because of how simple and thin the structure and material is. That night at the campsite had dinner and tea. Afterward stayed up for a little bit before than going to bed after a quick easy hike.    (continued.....)

Machu Pichchu

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      Machu Picchu is definitely a site no one should miss in their lifetime if they have a chance and the means to be able to go. Once on site and seeing it from the opening vantage point entering it is beyond the very breath one takes to hike their way into. It truly is magnificent! If one has time while being here I recommend not taking the tours that are given when first arriving, but instead explore it for oneself first. Experience it for yourself before having someone else flood you with information and other things to not be able to enjoy the site. The other thing to is that one can overhear whatever is being said from the tours so one won't really miss out. Explore and experience Machu Picchu how they would have when it was first discovered except for everything being well managed. Then after been on your own exploring and experiencing it for oneself , but want information about the site then take the tour. With the knowledge then learned from the tour one can compare and contrast first experiencing it by oneself with the information taken by the tour known of Machu Picchu.

      Just as your trying to wrap your mind around finally being at Machu Picchu, the site itself metaphorically is wrapping around you as going through the maze of different routes and levels to get around in this vast monstrous city.  Not only is it a maze of courtyards, structures, houses, and terraces; but many different levels of mysteries unknown to the actual physical visualization of Machu Picchu. History and historical evidence  from the past of thousands of years that are still here today are beyond belief and intrigue. The idea that man with primitive technology and comprehension built not necessarily as an achievement; but for something in and of their cultural heritage well being, a sort of manifest destiny to put in Northern Industrialized term. The fact that the site still stands, is monstrous, was self sufficient, is as old as time, being able to see (touch, smell, etc.) physical remains of the original structure in tact, and to feel only closer spiritually in some sense of what they were trying to do without actually knowing for sure is definitely gratifying as the site itself. The rough and yet perfectly cut out rock to match together to build structures, the growing vegetation, and significance of how the site was built really amazes one, but more importantly empowering it is of what the ancient Inca civilization did only make people appreciate it today till there hearts are content. Machu Picchu can be seen as a physically geographical plus for choosing it as it is meant to be coming from a photographers point of view due to the countless high and different vantage points one can see Machu Picchu from. Only one location for such a wonderful site and the site is completely different depending on how one sees it from. Just when one thinks everything is on the same playing field of a three dimensional space your wrong and are amaze that there is more than one playing field at work on the site. Having known that from seeing the different vantage points. It truly is astonishing!

      Starting from the winding wrapping around the river side to the climbing puma of rigid rock along the cliff side to the open freeing air where the condor flies. Ever so empowering of a site to be.

Cuzco

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       Cuzco is a smaller more local village collective of a city than LIMA. Meaning most who want to live in a city in mountain region and who don't have the money to go to LIMA would move to Cuzco. It's definitely more manageable to get around then in LIMA and has more of the traditional Peruvian character to the city. When I say manageable I mean walkable and if need be taxi or public transport whereas in LIMA it's a huge city and is divided into different city sections. LIMA also being pack with motorized vehicles that traveling in that way could take a while and walking takes a while too because of how spread out everything is along with traffic flow both on the sidewalk and roadways. As I was saying in the LIMA section before about animals, well here in Cuzco there might be more than just cats and dogs that one might see. Another possibly is pig, chicken, Alpaca, and sheep (goat), but mostly throughout the city it will be lose dogs roaming around. The animals as roaming and lose as they are about the city the are well behaved and mannered. The biggest thing about Cuzco is food and restaurants. Than there are shops, vendor booths, and markets. Throughout the one square of the city (section with two churches in a plaza near Plaza San Francis) there are nice and high end looking restaurants which are all really good and fairly priced spread all throughout even in the parallel and adjacent streets off the plaza. There is some of variety of places like Italian, Irish Pub, Peruvian, sandwich & soup place, and cafe style places. So there is always something and a new place to try every time. Just like home they have Happy Hour every night to get people to come in. The food and edible stuff one will want to stay away from is street vendors with food, especially the ones that grill on the street. Also sandwiches for the most part that will have mayo and depending somethings from the San Pedro market which is the locally grown and managed vegetables and meat.

      

       The shopping places mix from: grocery, street markets, street vendors, high end/ nice jewelry, high end Alpaca products to more lower priced product shops, street booth vendors, instrument shops, and the list goes on. But for the most part ever place you go to in Peru for souvenirs will have the same thing. Within Cuzco there are just so many places and great things to check out. Of course for club or party goers there are a decent amount and looking clubs and bars to enjoy. Of course there are a lot of hotels too, ranging from two star to five star hotels. Regardless of stars they are all stay able and nice, don't need the nicest looking one. One of the most exciting and best things to wittness to also be apart of is when a country does their traditional holiday and festivity celebrations the same time one is there for it. I was able to and check out what it was like both during the day and the night of one day of the week celebrating. It was interesting seeing the social difference from home to here in Peru. That being from a social stand point, economic stand point, status (occupation) stand points, and daily living value stand point. They were not too different then back home in some respects; although I can say police in Peru don't look for drunk people to ticket like our police back home do.

      

       Even if one does not want to travel far from Cuzco, but want to get out of the city for a while like a day trip there are sites and things to do outside the city too. Everyday is different and interesting even after two weeks in being in the same place.

Nasca

Mountainous region and rocky area of Nasca.

Pool at Hotel Mojoro.

Nasca Lines Airplane.

In the air above the lines and what the desert
region of Nasca looks like.

Nasca is a really rocky, dirt dusty, and sandy region of Peru. With mountainous heights and low rising hill versions of similar mountains. Not as steep as the mountains in the Cusco region and full of vegetation. In particular parts of Nasca there are oasis and vegetation growing in the valley areas where there is a constant supply of water. Since it is winter time in the southern hemisphere there is not as much heat dryness as one would expect. Besides the desertous landscape Nasca is know for a few more things such as the Nasca lines, cock fights, and other things one might expect of a desertous  location. The Hotel that I stayed at, Hotel Mojoro is an isolated, but blocked off by their outer boundary wall of their property from the land that they do not own. Within the complex itself there are many things to do. Pool table, swimming pool, soccer, swings, monkey bars, hammocks, a lagoon, restaurant, bar, and lounge chair dispersed among the complex. I almost forgot to mention that they also have a pet Alpaca on grounds as well as peacocks.


The Nasca lines are quite a site to see that figures where drawn back in the ancient times of Peru from the civilization that was there at the time and still sit undisturbed. They are visually seen from the difference of the top soil and below it. The top soil is dark colored rocks and the bottom is lighter soil or in this case sand/ dry dirt. Thus lines and pictographs can be formed, but the real question is is how did they make these pictographs without being able to see from above? Nevertheless it is quite amazing and interesting even though they are lines, but the fact that they are ancient pictographs that with stood time and natural occurrences is beyond anything.

Owl man or astronaut line.

Dog line.

The other thing is the cock fights that i believe happen pretty regularly since it is a form of entertainment in the Nasca region and a way to gamble money to see which cock wins. One might say it is barbarism, but it is their way of life and being able to see it for what it is in the cultural aspect in their region you won't see it that way. The losing chicken does not go to waste either which is not bad because then it will just be food for some family or someone who is eating and the consumer will never know. Just that they are eating their great tasting chicken. In the fight, each cock's spur is either cut off or kept on depending on the blade that is attached. It is a painless/ nerveless part of the cock just peoples bottoms and crown of their heads are to them, but aren't cut off in the similar fashion in cock fights. The owners then attach the sharpened blade to the cock's foot with a small wooden block to ensure the blade does not two things: cut into their own foot and to keep the blade secure in place while being attached to the foot. Then to ensure stability and security of the blade, the owners then tie using string/ small rope the block and blade in place on the foot. Then to give it a protective cover they then tape the rope. To make sure the blade is clean from dirt, dry blood, poison, etc. the owners wipe the blade clean. They hold the cock's while trying to get them riled up to later attack each other. Once they have done that they place them at opposite ends and close the gate doors for them to them start fighting. It is not over till the losing cock's beak touches the ground.

Spider line.

Another view of the region of Nasca.

Cock fight in Nasca. Owners attaching the blade to foot.

Cocks in the ring about to fight.

Box of death. Blade of choice to attach.

Owners preparing foot by cutting the spur of the foot
off and attaching the blade.

Dune buggy! One of the best activities to do on the desert.

Riding the buggy through the desert and rock.

Sand boarding! Another fun activity on the dunes.

Ancient Nazcan body. Preserved by ton of salt,
organs taken out, and filled with cotton.

Ancient skull on the burial grounds.

Ancient aqueduct. Water flows underneath.

Nazcan woven shack. There are Peruvians
that live live like this in Nasca.

Food and Beverage

Peruvian winery with best wine being
displayed. Also with their very best Pisco.

Typical Peruvian Pisco found.

Bigger than usual corn and not as sweet as the states.
along with fine steak and a potato dish creation.

Chilean wine. Found a lot in Peru because it's their
regions skill in the southern hemisphere. Peru makes
their own too, but a bigger importer of Chilean.

Small taste of Peruvian buffet dish. Tomato and salad, Alpaca 
drumsticks, wonton dumpling, cold pasta, 
and rice mixed with vegetable.

Salt from the salt mines. Salt found on every
table in Peru.

Peruvians collecting and harvesting potatoes.

Typical size of Peruvian potato.

Collecting and transporting crops by mule or
small horse.

Typical Peruvian soup. Usually only vegetables.

One shop in Cusco that specializes in cocoa tea.

Collecting and preparing potatoes for transport.

Nice restaurant in Peru. Awesome dessert!

Amaretto ice cream and brownie with amaretto hints
covered with chocolate drizzle.

One region in Peru that specializes in the
making of bread. For this bakery sweet
tasting bread.

Another region that specializes in Creme de Pisco.
Which is similar to Bailey's Cream, but with Pisco.
Chocolate, vanilla, and orange Creme de Pisco.

       Just like my other experience in Italy of


2004, each region specializes in something that


they are know for.




As explained by the captions of some of the


above, most small villages in Peru specialize in


something and in some cases because of the


layout of the land its by region.




From what I picked up from the regions that I at


they specialize in Creme de Pisco, bread, brick


making, harvesting certain crops, cocoa leaf


growing, salt, wine, Pisco, pottery, Alpaca


textiles, and the list can go on and on.


Those are the ones that I have encountered.


 For a majority since Alpacas and Llamas


populate the country of Peru, textiles made of


the fur of those animals are very prized and their


biggest thing.




The quality or craft of the treads of the alpaca


textile will vary depending on whats it is for or


the quality that is given the apparel.


I have tried everything for the most part that


Peru had to offer except for the questionable


stuff that one should not when it's their first time


because one is not use to the germs or micro-


organisms that live there. Some examples being


street vendor food, sandwiches from some


places mostly due to not well kept mayo, and


getting food from the big market where locals


would get their meat and vegetables.




Restaurants for a majority are safe, especially


the nicer ones because they want customers and


do whats necessary to keep them coming back.


The portion and taste of the food in general is


nothing like we ever tasted back home. Not real


fat, salty, sugary or big. Everything is as what


we should eat here at home.




One of meats that I tried that was really


interesting and good is alpaca meat. The thought


of eating at first, I'll admit was skeptical, but


after trying it and taking my time eating it. It's


actually REALLY Good! It's almost like steak


or a version of steak, but a lot finer piece of


meat.




There was another moment where I could have


had moth larva in the morning for breakfast, but


stomach was not really strong for that at that


time. Plantains were really good, but not as


sweet as the bananas typically eaten back in the


states.




Pisco is great tasting alcohol. I like to reference


it as a wine vodka because it is made from grape


and fermented till it has a hard liquor


consistency.




Then the popular and great mixed drink made


from the Pisco is called a Pisco Sour. That is


pretty much Pisco, lemon juice and egg white


with blended ice. That is really good especially


during the summer and hot times of the season,


but it can be drank anytime of the year too.

Sabino Instruments

Working table with little hand held flutes and finalizing
small guitar.

Same work table with small guitar and hand held chisel.

Floor covered in wood shavings from countless
instrument creating.

Second work table with wood shavings, hand saw, and plane.

Second work table with polyurethaned version
marimacho and other hand tools to get the job done.

More hand tools, pencils, etc. hanging on a wall.

Charangos of one style cut into shape and waiting to be
worked on.

Charangos of another style cut and sanded down into 
shape. Waiting for finalized touches.

Charangos waiting to be dried out for one year before
being worked on.

Wall two of hand tools and finished charangos.

       Sabino is a local Cusconian who is an Instrument Professional in creating the various instruments that him and his two sons make within their shop. This profession and trait of craft has been past down from generation to generation within his family starting from his great great grandfather down to current  day. Considering how times have changed since then and global influences (machinery, ideas, music, food, etc.) have been introduced and perhaps somewhat adopted there has been some talk that his sons might not want to continue the line of instrument making, but as of right now his sons are continuing the line of craft and currently working on different instrumental projects. Creating Charangos is a long process of collecting materials such as wood and wood even from the way north like Canada and the USA. Using one piece of thick wood to cut out and carve the general shape of the Charango. After it has been cut into its general shape they allow the wood to dry for a year to then continue the process by shaping it into its final decor and playing shape of state. They then use different kinds of wood to then decorate and design the surface of the Charango into designs and patterns that speak to them. This is really symbolic and as much of a part of Sabino when creating his instruments. 
         When each Charango and guitar like instrument is made in terms of pattern and design for each one he pays close attention to the relationship and differences of the sound that the instrument makes and relates it to woods being used to design the instrument's look. As another general reason and relation he has with the process of designing these instruments he enjoys the aesthetics of the different woods as they are being inlaid into the look of the Charango. Sabino has a personal project that he has been working on of his own and that is his own personal guitar. The guitar has been made out of a beautiful single piece of cherry wood inlaid the edges with dark and light wood, and inlaid the dark wood for the neck and head of the guitar. There is no hole in the center of the guitar where the strings vibrate into the guitar, but there is a heart cut out just below the neck where it meets the body of the guitar and in the top left corner slits with little circles next to them. He says he designed this one that way because the guitar is like his heart and every sound/ stroking of the strings is his heart beating to the sound of the music the guitar makes and his passion for creating these musical instruments. With his craft of these instruments and making them as his profession, he enjoys seeing the same love and interests from others of the tangible and intangible feelings and connections they receive from his instruments who'd like to purchase them. Once looking at his finished pieces in the store room and the workshop room with the painstaking process to make one of these instruments, one would only be amazed at the craft and quality one can get for such a beautiful instrument with the use of hand tools. Whats more amazing is that he is located through a very obvious door that seems hidden because a merchant is parked right in front of it and on the other side of the street in front of Sabino's door to his shop is the 12 sided stone.

Sacred Valley

           Sacred Valley is such a completely different place than Lima and Cuzco. It's more of a remote area than the city nearby and even still the nearby village cities are remote themselves. A lot slower than the bigger cities and more of a natural way of life in Peru. The people are just as nice as in Lima as they are in Sacred Valley, except that the people are more to themselves unless engaged and interacting by someone. The lifestyle and pace of the people and area is a lot slower than Cuzco and Lima. Yet they are more in tuned with the land and mother nature has to tell them. The more traditional way of Peruvian life than the international and Spanish influence way of the international cities of Lima and I say a bit of Cuzco. Most of the area is mountainous and plateaus with streams through the valleys filled with farmland and country native to the geography of Peru. The people live off of the land and the houses made of mud brick. Farther away from the cities is what most outside people think of Peru to be, but it is nicely developed in certain places within the country itself it is just a matter of looking. A majority of the country even the developed areas are still captured in the time that Peru was initially just a few industrial touches to make it inhabitable for some others and to keep up with current times from other countries. The Sacred Valley and the country side surrounding it is the more honest and true sensation of/ what Peru is like. In the the Sacred Valley there is less in counters of people who are also visiting and the same thing goes for Peruvian merchants who walk around the streets trying to sell what they can for a profit to live. The Peruvian merchants are like a swarm of insects that one can not really get rid of because once one is done with one of them not even 5 feet ahead and another one comes. The peace of the countryside and living among the village is true great. One is more connected with the land and the natural spirit of what the people of lived.