For two days we hiked the Inca trail before arriving at Machu Pichu - a sacred establishment that was started, but never finished, by the Incas. In the early 1500s the Spanish conquests brought an abrupt end to all construction as the Incas fled the region. What a lot of people don't know, however, is that this sacred temple was a secret to the Incas themselves. Only the elite - the priests and very priveledged knew about its construction. The workers were uprooted from their homes in the valley without knowing where they were going or what they would be building. The holiest buildings such as the temples, were built without any mortar - What I found to be even more impressive, however, was the hydrolic system they had established.
The majority of my trip I stayed in Arequipa where I volunteered at a children's hospital and an orphanage when I wasn't studying for my Spanish course. (I paid 4 dollars an hour for a personal tutor while I was there!) Anyhow, at the orphanage, the boys each learned special trades so that they would be able to support themselves when they were on their own. I was surprised at how self-sufficient they were- They even made their own shoes!
For two days we hiked the Inca trail before arriving at Machu Pichu - a sacred establishment that was started, but never finished, by the Incas. In the early 1500s the Spanish conquests brought an abrupt end to all construction as the Incas fled the region. What a lot of people don't know, however, is that this sacred temple was a secret to the Incas themselves. Only the elite - the priests and very priveledged knew about its construction. The workers were uprooted from their homes in the valley without knowing where they were going or what they would be building. The holiest buildings such as the temples, were built without any mortar - What I found to be even more impressive, however, was the hydrolic system they had established.
The majority of my trip I stayed in Arequipa where I volunteered at a children's hospital and an orphanage when I wasn't studying for my Spanish course. (I paid 4 dollars an hour for a personal tutor while I was there!) Anyhow, at the orphanage, the boys each learned special trades so that they would be able to support themselves when they were on their own. I was surprised at how self-sufficient they were- They even made their own shoes!
3 comments:
Karen, Machu Pichu is gorgeous! I think it's great you got to visit it. It's wonderful that you can travel so much at this time in your life. Once you get a steady job, your traveling time will greatly decrease unfortunately. So live it up while you can!
What an amazing trip! I am so glad that you had such a good time and were able to experience the native life - what great memories! The photos alone of Machu Pichu are stunning, being there was most definitely 100 times better. $4/ hr for tutoring is a steal!
Karen, the picture of machu pichu is gorgeous. It's nice to hear a little bit about your trips. I don't get to talk to you often enough. I'm glad you're documenting your travels w/ lots of photos!!
Leigh
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