We had arrived at our resort in the Sacred Valley after dark so didn’t have a chance to see how nice the grounds were. 

This was the second time we’ve stayed at a very, very nice resort in a seemingly isolated portion of Peru.

We also needed to divide our belongings into one bag that would be with us for our afternoon adventure in Machu Picchu, a few things that will go on the train for overnight at a hotel near the site, and the bulk of our belongings that we won’t see again until after our second visit to Machu Picchu.  This was quite a complicated task and I’m not sure we could blame altitude fog for the confusion.  Eventually, we and everyone else in our group, figured something out and had our luggage sorted into the appropriate piles.

We had breakfast at the hotel but were also tasked with making or gathering something for lunch from the hotel’s breakfast buffet.  We had time constraints with our travel and there would not be time to stop for a proper lunch.

Soon after we left the resort, we ran into road construction that had started before it was supposed to.  Our bus driver and tour director had to do some negotiating so we could leave and meet our other well timed itinerary.

We passed the Sky Lodge Adventure Suites hanging off the side of the mountain!   Here are a few phrases I took from their website:   a once-in-a-lifetime chance to sleep in a completely transparent, hanging bedroom capsule over 1,000 feet above the valley floor,  not for the faint of heart, you must first either climb 1,312 feet to the top of Via Ferrata, or hike an intrepid trail through zip-lines, each suite comes complete with four beds, a dinning area and a private bathroom.  Packages includes breakfast & gourmet dinner with wine.  Even Randy said no thanks.

We also saw a bit of the last glacier in the Andes, the only one remaining in the equatorial zone.

We arrived at the the adobe village of Ollantaytambo. I missed out on buying coffee at the Incabucks.  Next time we’re in the neighborhood, I’m stopping!

Our destination was the ruins of an Inca fortress.  We were told that we could choose to walk to the top, or hear the tour but there wasn’t time to both.  Randy and I decided to divide and conquer and both get what we prefer! 

This is the way Randy went up….

He took a picture of these three alpaca on the way up!

These are some additional pictures of Randy’s trek up to the high point of the Incan Temple of the Sun. 

In Peruvian history, the Inca beat the Spaniards three times.  However, in Spanish history, they only acknowledge one loss –  that being here at the Temple of the Sun in Ollantaytambo.

This is the tour route….the way these rocks were placed involves the summer solstice

These stones weigh 90-100 tons.  How??

And how did they cut these stones to fit the way they do?  That mystery remains.

The Inca made their cities in the shapes of their gods. This fortress was made in the shape of a llama. 

The small house is the male sex organ of the God llama while the second house is the female sex organs of the God llama.  I don’t know what their more practical uses were.

This is an Inca water canal next to the stairs.  The water can be diverted to provide irrigated water to the terrace.   Using irrigation for one cycle and rain for another the Inca were able to plant two crops a year.

In general, walls that were conducted with this type of construction were less important than those with fitted stones.

This water temple was constructed for prayers of gratitude.  It is positioned so that the window allows the winter solstice light to come through.

The house on the side of the mountain, gets the morning light and is positioned to dehydrate foods. 

We left the ruins and headed back through the village.  I wanted to buy some of these colorful tassels but never did because I had no idea what I would do with them after I owned them.

We were headed to Rosa’s house, a woman of Incan descent.

She lives in a 500 year old Inca house that has a new roof.

These are husband and wife shawls over the bed.

In Inca tradition, the youngest child stays to take care of parents and inherits the home. In the Incan culture, there were not mid-wives, designated men served that role.

This stone is hematite from a meteor – strong enough to cut granite.

Rosa had a variety of religious or spiritual traditions represented in her home. 

She, like many, Inca did not feel the need to choose one over another.

In Inca tradition, prosperity is not measured by housing, it is measured by your friends and community.

We were in Ollantaytambo and Rosa’s home on September 18, 2024.  

Next up:  It’s Machu Picchu afternoon!