Another great day. We started early buying some fruit for the road at the Pisac Market. Am I the only one that can’t resist checking out the local market in every small town he visits?
Then it was off for our tour of the Sacred Valley starting with the Pisac ruins which really are just indescribable so here are some pictures. It’s amazing that the agricultural terraces built by the Inkas more than 600 years ago are still in tact.
Of course you have to be careful walking the ruins, there are places that are dangerous so access is prohibited and there are places that are safe so you can pass with no problem and then there are places that are “medium dangerous” so you are advised to “pass fast.”
It was an hour drive to our next stop and completely by coincidence our driver unexpectedly made a bathroom stop in Pisac next door to Ernestina’s restaurant Puma Chayoc so of course we went in and bought some empanadas for the road and she was so happy. Will commented to me that she was such a kind person.
About an hour later we arrived at an oasis type restaurant with a huge buffet including everything from ceviche made to order and alpaca which I tried for the first time.
After that it was Ollantaytambo an amazing archaeological site which has incredible fortress ruins and terraces all within walking distance of the charming old town center.
The Inkas were soundly defeated by the Spaniards in Cusco but they defeated the conquistadors in battle at Ollantaytambo; however, fearing massive retaliation they, nonetheless, abandoned the town after their victory and fled to the jungle for refuge.
Tonight we are bivouacked at a kind of adult summer camp with cabins in the remote hills but it’s pretty posh.
Tomorrow it’s an early start on the train to Machu Pichu.
I’m bushed but William’s comments about Ernestina got me thinking.
I think kindness is likely the most under valued of all human virtues.
I think that if you don’t have something nice to say you shouldn’t say anything at all but you should always think of something nice to say.
And lastly I think you should treat others the way you would want others to treat your aging parents, your ailing spouse, your children that you love and the friends you hold most dear.
So that’s it for Al Peru con Joven Guillermo Blog Post 5.
Duermen bien mis amigos, I hope I do we have a 7:00 am pick up!