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Published: October 25th 2016
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Our tour guide, Rive, has managed to get us a large comfy G Adventures bus to take us to Ollantaytambo via the Scared Valley. This is such a relive, as minibuses are never fun for someone who is nearly 6 foot 2!
We first stop at the Statue of Christ, this statue overlooks the city of Cusco and offers great views. The views are probably a 100 times better since the sun is blazing and the sky is blue, but the air is slightly cold. I've got my shades out and I am wearing shorts, a top and fleece. What a great look... I just can't decide if I am hot or cold? must be the high altitude that makes it that bit cooler.
Next we stop at a small village called Ccaccaccollo. Here G Adventures have a project called the Planeterra Foundation which helps the local women make traditional textiles of alpaca and wool. As part of the trek to Machu Picchu, G Adventures take their travel groups to Ccaccaccollo to learn every step of the traditional weaving process including spinning the wool, dying the wools with all natural dyes and different weaving and knitting techniques. This program
really does help this little community to benefit financially from tourism without any negative cultural impact. When G Adventures told the Peruvian government of their project plan, the government decided to invest money to the community by improving the roads and building a car park to help companies like G Adventures bring the tourism to the village.
After the ladies show us all the steps into making the traditional textiles we then have the opportunity to buy some. The ladies all keen to make a sale, but up until this point Peru had been super cheap and now it's going to cost me 12 pounds for a Peruvian woolie hat? oh man, let's do this! 100% Alpaca wool and I get to look silly but at least my ears will be warm. I even get to show off my new look with an Alpaca selfie.
Next, we get back on the bus and head to the Scared Valley via a narrow road of hairpin turns. The views are absolutely stunning! The photos not giving the scenery any justice! We stop off at the Pisac ruins. At the heart of the Inca Empire this area had the right climate
and fertile plains for the Inca's to grow their crops. Little is known as to the history of the site before the Spanish conquest, but it is believed the area was used as a ceremonial and military centre. As we start to climb up the ruins, our guide points out tombs that aren't accessible by foot, but apparently were raided by the Spanish for gold. The sun is blazing hot, the air remains cold and I still look silly... the group and myself struggle climbing the steep steps to the watch tower, yet the climb so easy for Rive. Once we make it to the very top of the ruins, we are about 11,000 feet above sea level. It is so incredible to be so high up. The views of the green valleys and mountain peaks are just breathtaking!
Next we stop off at Huchuy Qosqo, a small village of 65 families living in the Sacred Valley. We have lunch which is included with the trip at Parwa Restaurant. This resident-run restaurant was kickstarted by G Adventures as part of the Planeterra Foundation. The food really, really tasty... How is Peruvian food so underrated?
After lunch we head
over to Ollantaytambo. Once checked into the hotel, we head over to the ruins as the evening draws in. At the time of the Spanish conquest of Peru, Ollantaytambo served as the last stronghold for Inca, Manco Yupanqui, leader of the Inca resistance. Now Ollantaytambo ruins and town are an important and popular tourist attraction in the Sacred Valley. Ollantaytambo is a common starting point for the famous Inca Trail, or to catch the train to Aguas Calientes to see Machu Picchu.
In the evening I find myself in a bar drinking beer, watching football on the TV and cheering on Peru in a world cup qualifier against Haiti.
Next stop; Aguas Calientes
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Dancing Dave
David Hooper
Ahhh...no better place
Definitely a photo for the pool room Alan. You could not look happier or more content in my reckoning. Your longing to discover the delights of Peru seem to be paying off. What fabulous history and landscapes. Olly is one of our favourite places. Looking forward to the next instalment and keep showing the joy.