Two More Days of Tours

Over the past two days we have been on day trips to sites in the surrounding areas. We have been to Moray which at first glance looks like several large amphitheaters, but they believe it was used to grow crops under a kind of laboratory condition. Perhaps this is why there are over 300 types of corn grown in Peru. Next was the Salinas de Maras. Here you have the salt mine which was quite the site to see from the road high up in the mountains. There is a stream of salt water coming out of the mountain (80% salt) so they created terraces to make small pools where the water can evaporate and leave a thick crust of salt.

Today we visited Pisac which is believed to be a military post and was built high up on the mountainside. Then it was off to Ollantaytambo. Honestly, at this point, I thought I had seen enough of rocks and ruins. But, you couldn't help but be impressed with this place.

The Incas and Quechua were amazing architects and dedicated movers and organizers of stones and rocks. They believed in Pachamama, the Earth Mother and to this day they make offerings to ensure good health, good weather and so on. The Quechua still live in the Andes, speak their own language and mingle Christianity with their ancient beliefs. They are people of the earth tending to animals and planting crops without the use of modern machinery.

We're now ready to trek the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. It promises to be an experience of a lifetime.