Monday, July 22
Today we left the hotel early at 7 a.m. with just our
backpacks filled with things we need for the next three days. This was the
first day where I have actually felt normal. We will visit Machu Picchu by
train, so we had to leave our big suitcases back at the hotel We drove from
Cusco to Ollantaytambo. On our way, we made a few stops at three places
supported by G Adventures throughout the Sacred Valley. This is the company
that I booked the tour with and they have many community projects they support all
over the world. This is one of the reasons that I like booking with this company…and
they also don’t charge a supplemental fee when traveling alone. The first stop
was a women’s weaving factory in Ccaccaccollo where they weave various items
from alpaca, llama, and sheep. Our guide told us that when they first started
the project, there were only 20 families involved. Now, there are over 60
families and most of them use the profits to pay for education of their
children. There is no school in this area above primary (grade 5), so the kids
have to be sent far away from their families so you can imagine how expensive
that is especially with a big family. We watched how the women clean, dye, and
weave the materials into a gorgeous stocking cap, scarf, blankets, etc. It was
truly amazing to see how this community is thriving on such a simple concept demonstrating
your craft and selling your goods to tourists.
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| My whole group |
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| provider of the yarn |
In the second place today (Cuyo Chico), they taught us how
to make adobe bricks and things from four different types of clay. In the
demonstration I learned that when someone wants to build a house, they invite
their friends and they all build his house together (usually over a few months).
They do not expect payment, but they do expect to be given food and drink
(alcoholic – but not too strong so they work but not become drunk). It takes
about 2000 bricks to build a house and the bricks have to dry for about 30
days. The bricks are 30x40 cm and made completely by hand. I could not believe
how the guy used his feet today to mix the clay. They will then choose a
Godmother and Godfather along with a priest (Catholic) and a natural healer to
bless the house. They also affix a cross (which shows their religion) along with
two oxen on top of their house. According to the guy today, the family’s oxen
is like their children. They treat them very well because they help to provide
their livelihood.
After the bricks, we learned about the ceramics that they
make. Again, everything is by hand and they have even figured out a way to make
beads. They bake the ceramics and paint them using watercolors. They even make
their own brushes from old pen tubes and hair from a cat, dog, or sheep. I bought
a chess set and a coffee cup. They were really incredible.
The third stop was a restaurant where the food is grown,
cooked, and served to tourists in the Parwa community in Sacred Valley. Today’s meal was just amazing.
I forgot to take a picture of the menu, but there were appetizers, main
courses, and dessert. Everything was served family still with the exception of
a few things.
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| Sacred Valley |
After the stops, we drove to Ollantaytambo and checked into
the hotel. Then, we visited the Inca ruins with huge stone terraces on a
hillside. It was absolutely breathtaking and heart pounding at 2,792m above sea
level.
Then, we had dinner together and retired for the night.
Tomorrow will be another early wake up call.
