Tuesday, September 23

Llama and Guanaco and Vicugna and Alpaca…On My! We went to a camelid farm to feed and pet the llama, guanaco, vicugna and alpaca. Camelids originated in North America and migrated to Asia and North Africa where they evolved into camels and into South America where they became these four animals. They disappeared from North America after the first ice age.

The wool from the alpaca is softer than sheep’s wool because the fiber is smaller and smoother. (We may have bought a sweater or two!)

They also had a condor enclosure

They had women demonstrating traditional weaving techniques and how they dye the wool using herbs and plants .

Replicas of Incan weavings on display...

Pisac is another Incan settlement known for its terraces. The Incans were agrarian and Pisac showcases their expertise in farming, potatoes in particular. Each terrace is 20’ deep and we calculated roughly that a 20’ x 14’ plot could generate 1 ton of potatoes! That’s a lot of French fries!

Our guide, Ruben

Pete, Kristina, and Kelli Hnath; Mike and me

Salt Mines of Maras: These have been around since pre-Incan times. There are 3,500 pools that refine salt through evaporation that are privately owned by 350 families. The pools are fed by a small hot spring that produces water that is 5 times saltier than the ocean.

This is the small spring....

feeding the 3,500 pools!

The circular Terraces of Moray are believed to be an elaborate agricultural laboratory where the Incas could determine the optimal growing conditions for different crops. They would modify the seeds to grow at different elevations as they moved up the terraces.

Ollantaytambo is one of the grandest Inca sites in the Sacred Valley, boasting Inca terraces, an otherworldly Temple of the Sun, and a Water Temple. It is named after Ollantay, a successful Inca general, whose power became a threat to the king. His clandestine relationship with the king’s daughter was the straw that broke the camelids back and incited a battle within the Incan empire. This place became General Ollantay’s last sanctuary and citadel.