But wait, there's more!

I have lately realized that I just skipped over a lot of my last several days in Peru, so this conglomeration will remedy much of that oversight.

This is what the steps are like at Mach Picchu and the other sites. Notice how irregular they are both the surface and the height of each step.

This shows the height of the terraces and the sheer steepness of the site. Are you able to make out the tiny people on the lower left? Also partway up near the center. After all it's built into the side of a mountain. I'll include one you've seen before to notice the steep road to Machu Picchu:

Now to another day where we visited the countryside where we saw men mixing the Adobe for bricks:

Also bricks made by a man who lamented the labor he'd put into a huge batch of bricks that turned out poorly; see how they're cracking as they dry?

This batch did turn out well:

The rocks are for the foundation of his house.

We also saw--several times--men plowing a field with oxen:

Here is the countryside in that part of the country:

This is Flora

We visited her classroom. She enjoyed the iPhone and immediately reached up to touch the button to snap a picture!

They sang and danced for us

We reciprocated with 'The Hokey Pokey!'

Not everyone wants to be photographed. I struggle with it; one can't always be discreet. The hats the women wear were inspired when the English were planning for the railroads--fun, don't you think?

Our guide siad that the women who wear white hats 'wear the pants' in their families!

Sacsaywaman

Some remember the name of this epic place by referring to it as 'Sexy Woman!' The pronunciation isn't terribly far off , and it helps me to remember the real name.  

Located on a hill above Cusco, which is already high, Sacsaywaman was  a fortress and spiritual center. Constructed of huge, shaped stones, fitted together snugly without mortar, it is truly an epic site!

The largest stone weighs 200 tons! Yes, two hundred tons!

Here it is behind Claire, me, and Bernadene! See how beautifully the stones are fitted? Some have notches and extensions to maneuver them into place.

Notice here how the huge wall zigzags behind me; this formation reduces or neutralizes movement caused by seismic activity. Evidence that it works? The wall is still standing!

This adjacent hill has a vortex on the top. I couldn't make the climb because, by then, my knees were trashed. Claire and Bernadene made it though, and told me about it. Notice the zigzag wall again.

As you can see here, there are other levels higher up the hillside.

I didn't tire of taking pictures; there's a quilt or two lurking in here!

I like the variety of huge and smaller stones plus the interesting angles.

I am now safely home, resting my poor legs, especially my knees. But I met my climbing goals with a lot of help from my friends, especially Bernadene, who refused to let me fail. Because of her, I succeeded! I'm proud I did it and am grateful for a generous friend! Muchas gracias, Bernadene!

Market Scenes, mostly in and outside of Cusco

Markets are fascinating places, both for people-watching and for the products. Let's take a look---

This woman sells hard-boiled eyes with--what else?--potatoes --and a sauce.

Heaps of Guinea pig food . Yes, they are very cute, but they take up little space and are eating-size at six months. An inexpensive and manageable source of protein since well before the Incas.

From the bakery, a special item for All Saints' Day--this one, with a doll's face, is for girls; another, with a horse, is for boys.

Entering the market, modern and traditional ways of carrying. But which will hold more?

Pretty underskirts for traditional women. They wear as many as NINE!!

Sausage maker!

Fruit stand. I bought a passion fruit and enjoyed it later in my room.

Spices!  Yes, I do use a lot of exclamation marks! I found it all fascinating, and, much of it beautiful--especially the people!

Cheeses

A little impotence problem? Try some bull penis!

Hats and other woven goods, including this devil hat/mask that covers the whole head! 

Festival costumes for girls.

And right by the door, colorful and beautifully scented flowers!

In and around Cucso

I had no idea what to expect Cusco to be like; it's smaller than Lima, in the high mountains, and was the center of the Incan Empire! The Incans thought of their city as the umbilicus of their known world.

I love the mountains surrounding the city--remind you of anywhere? And the blue sky--none of that in Lima!

Here are some common sights:

A small plaza with a market

one of many churches

an arcade of shops and cafes

a  small plaza

the courtyard of our hotel

the large fountain in the main plaza

and a fountain near our hotel

It's a lovely city, full of Spanish colonial influences on top of many Inca buildings. There is much we don't have time to do! Maybe I'll need to come back someday...

The Long, Hard Climb to the Gate of the Sun

It's a long, long way to Machu Picchu, then you climb a long, long way--without benefit of train or bus--to the Gate of the Sun!

I admit it was a tremendous struggle! I fell and hurt a knee, plus my legs were already sore from Ollantaytambo, where I also made it to the top. Fortunately I had, as my cheerleader and companion, a Navy Chief named Bernadine. She would not allow me to fail.

The trail is often incredibly irregular steps, sometimes 10-12 inches high! Quite a reach for my short legs--thank goodness for my walking sticks! I simply could not have done it without them!

There is great altitude at the base and gains, I think, 1200' on top of it. Three hours of walking/climbing, stopping very frequently to breathe and rest, Bernadine talked me up that mountain! As I said, it was a tremendous struggle, but we made it to the Gate of the Sun!

Do you see Machu Picchu waaaaay over there? It was a very long way!

That's the bus road from the valley to the base of the complex; our trail can't be seen, mostly hidden by trees.

Remember those steep, irregular steps I mentioned above? Worn-out knees and exhausted legs made them a great trial going down! We met a woman coming down as we were going up, who recommended sitting and scooting down the steepest sections of them--and I did! Not pretty to look at, but it got me down! It took us almost exactly two hours to get down, having to stop several times along the way, but not as much as on the way up!

That afternoon I was too tired to be proud, but by golly, I am proud now!

Returned by bus down to Aguas Calientes, then the train to Ollantaytambo

though the train broke down on the way! Not for long, maybe 15 minutes as they repaired a water line that cools something. Then we climbed on a bus to Cusco and enjoyed magnificent scenery as the sun dropped in the sky.

But then--BAM! The bus had a blow-out , one of the rear tires, and we were fine because it has dual tires in the rear. The bus limped to a small town, the driver found a shop--no power tools though, so it took a good hour to replace the tire!

Quite an adventurous day! But we were always safe and in good company, though I almost fell asleep in my dinner!