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Pisaq, Peru |
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Morning found us on the road heading toward the Sacred Valley. We had received word the previous evening that a strike was planned and the road to Ollantaytambo may be closed. That indeed was the case. We could not get to that particular site but other Incan ruins in the area were still accessable. So we altered our plans a bit and headed off to see some Incan sites. We were still embarking an adventure and our spirits were high with anticipation.
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On the way to the Pisaq ruins we met a Peruvian woman with her two young children and some llama. With the Sacred Valley as a backdrop we could resist and photos for tips became the order of the day.
Our minivan stopped at a point where we could get a view into the Sacred Valley. The weather was clear and the valley spread out before us like a jewel. Its rugged mountains and pastoral farmlands create a very inviting picture. I don't know if driving through the valley itself would have afforded a view this satisfying.
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Our van dropped us off at a site adjacent to the ruins. We were still adjusting to the altitude and were glad that we did not have to hike from the Valley floor to the ruins. This, however, was not just a simple stroll in the park.
This would be our first hike at high altitude and none of us wanted to suffer the effects of Altitude Sickness with its headaches and nausea that can last for days. As we began our trek the trail looked quite daunting to us.
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Even though we are adjacent to the site, the path is not level and goes up and down quite a bit as evidenced in these photos. Note that one determined traveller made the hike despite the fact that he is on crutches.
At last we reached out goal and were able to roam freely among the Incan ruins on the side of the cliff. The views alone were well worth the hike and none of us suffered any ill effects on this first "baby step" in high altitude hiking. We also had to hike back to our waiting van.
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Afterwards we stopped at the Pisaq Outdoor Market. I only have one photo of the food vendors but the area is jam packed with hundreds of people milling around the vendor kiosks that spread out on both sides where every kind of local handicraft is for sale. It is overwhelming. Perhaps if we had taken the trip in reverse I would have been more ammenable to buying stuff. I just don't like to lug a bunch of stuff around.
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