So Wednesday was pretty chill, which was good because I needed it, the altitude and everything had finally caught up to me. In the morning we went to 2 museums - the museum of the Inka and the museum of pre-columbian art. both were very cool. The Inka museum had a series of dioramas for native Peruvians from 10,000 or so years ago through the different main societies and periods including the Moche, wari and Inkans and up through the onset of spanish rule. They had a few collections of projectile points and obsidian cores, pottery throughout the different time periods, and agricultural tools. The coolest room by far in it though was the mummy room. They set up a display of skeletons and mummies with artifacts to look like a real tomb. Very cool.
Then we went to the pre columbian art museum, which was set up a bit differently. each room contained similar types of art and artifacts - wooden statues, pottery, jewelry, etc. Some of the pottery was really cool. One of my favorite pieces was a jog shaped like a deer. but the deer was very cartoon - like and very expressive. The jewelry room was also very interesting - they were very good with gold. A few of the displays included huge gold ear plugs (at least 5 or 6 inches in diameter - these were worn to show wealth, the larger the plug, the wealthier the person was) and an example of a golden crown.
After lunch at twonations we got some free time. I took a really long nap which was so nice, and caught up on homework. Then we went to dinner and after a few of us went out to an Irish pub (interesting) and a British pub (even more interesting - the UK the Peruvian way!). We had a really good time though and it was nice getting to know a few of the other students better.
Thursday was amazing beyond words. we left the hostel at 8 and went on a 3 hour bus ride to a village called Racqui (Rock-chee). But before we got there we stopped to look at some ruins...
In order to get to these ruins we had to hike up a hill and then cross a (as the locals called it) bridge. What they meant by bridge was really a railroad track with open ties over a small fast moving river, of which you would not want to fall into because I´m sure there were all kinds of nasty bacteria. But don´t worry, it wasn´t a very wide river, and everyone made it across quite safely - hopefully the picture I took of everyone crossing on my disposable camera will turn out well. we then hiked up another series of hills using a narrow footpath. Quite fun (seriously). at the top of the small hill we came to some very large ruins, and could see clear across the valley below. Completely stunning, as everything here is. Our guest professor, Bill, taught us history about the site and what it had possibly been used for, including the series of niches in the walls, which apparently housed mummies. The Wari tended to bury their ancestors within walls, to keep the family close. We got a good 20 minutes or so to get a good look and then went back down the hill and across the ¨bridge¨.
Once at Racqui, we entered the main plaza of the town, most of us bought some souveniers, and then continued through the plaza to more ruins. If the walls at the previous sight had been astounding, the series of ruins here was indescribable, so I´ll just use the word ëpic¨. I can´t even explain so hopefully I´ll be able to post pictures to show you all later.
After learning and exploring about the ruins we went back into the plaza and hiked past the main village towards a small house on the end. We were invited by a local family to come into their 3-room dirt floor house, and we all sat and had the most amazing meal ever. It was very simple - potatoes and meat roasted for several hours in a pit, and home made cheese. The spices they used on the meat, however, were phenomenal, and the family was so unbelievably nice to do all the work they did for us (there were about 30 of us altogether). They also made special Christmas Chicha - a homemade type of beer - for all of us to try. usually chicha is made out of corn, but this was made out of strawberries and was really good.
After lunch we were invited to go across the road to their ceramic workshop. They showed us all of their wares and we were invited to learn how they made all of their ceramics. It was so wonderful! Their pottery was for sale, of course, and I think we cleared most of it out!
It was definitely a very special and very cool experience.
Finally today we went about an hour away to a city called Pisaq. We weren´t able to see the ruins there but they had an amazing festival. There were so many colors and the music was wonderful. We watched the parade from the plaza through the streets, and ate lunch at a local restaurant. After we got back to Cuzco we went to twonations again where matt and his wife were celebrating their wedding aniversary, and they shared some delicious roasted pig, vegetables, potatoes, and sweet tamales with us. And after, as is supposedly customary, we all had a few shots of Pisco, the local liquor. Pisco is very strong and made from grapes grown in the southern part of Peru. It tastes kind of like sweet tequila almost.
Tomorrow we are all going Pisco tasting, and will learn how to make a pisco sour (tastes a bit like a margarita). Then on monday we will start excavating.
Ok, there isn´t much more to tell for now. Miss everyone, hope you´re all safe, and yes - definitely missing some greasy pizza and a reliably hot shower, but so far I´m having an amazing time.
Love you all,
Meghan
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