Altitude Sickness
I celebrated my 65th birthday climbing Machu Picchu, the famous 9,000-foot mountain in Peru. And just the day before that, I had climbed its steeper sister peak, Huainu Picchu. Two days of tough climbing nearly two miles above sea level and I could have suffered a bad bout of altitude sickness, what people in the Andes call soroche.
But before both climbs I knew that I might develop the symptoms of altitude sickness--headache, thirst, dizziness, weakness, heart palpitations and shortness of breath. So I did what Peruvian mountain hikers have done for thousands of years: I had a cup of mate de coca, or coca tea.
This tea is perfectly legal in Peru and Bolivia but not in the United States, because the coca leaf (Erythroxylum coca) is the source of cocaine. Cocaine is a highly processed derivative of coca, and coca tea contains only a little bit of it. But there's enough to act as a stimulant, which is why many Peruvians drink coca tea the way many of us drink Clove (Syzygium aromaticum). basil, Clove
Cloves are the dried flower buds of a tropical ever-green tree.
Mix several of the anti-aggregant herbs together, and you get my Altitude Adjustment Tea: In a pot of boiling water, steep cloves, allspice, bayleaf, celery seed, cinnamon and marjoram as available and to taste. Mix in, as available, any or all of these mints: basil, mountain dittany, savory and thyme.
Garlic contains at least nine compounds that help thin the blood. Its anti-aggregant effect is valued as a heart attack preventive, but it also helps soroche sufferers. According to my database, other plants that have anti-aggregant activity include tomatoes, dill and thyme, nude mountain mint, wild bergamot, winter savory, mountain dittany, lemon mint, mushroom the way Peruvians use coca leaf. According to scientific reports, reishi significantly reduced altitude sickness symptoms in Chinese workers who climbed to over 15,000 feet over three days in Tibet. The theory is that reishi increases the body's oxygen consumption. VISIT THIS WEB SITE FOR MORE INFORMATION
http://www.mothernature.com
lunes, 15 de febrero de 2010
lunes, 1 de febrero de 2010
Heart Attacks And Drinking Warm Water
Heart Attacks And Drinking Warm Water
This is a very good article. Not only about the warm water after your meal, but about Heart Attacks . The Chinese and Japanese drink hot tea with their meals, not cold water, maybe it is time we adopt their drinking habit while eating.
For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you. It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.
C ommon Symptoms Of Heart Attack...
A serious note about heart attacks - You should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting. Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line.
You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack. Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms. 60% of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know, the better chance we could survive.
A cardiologist says if everyone who reads this message sends it to 10 people, you can be sure that we'll save at least one life. Read this & Send to a friend. It could save a life. So, please be a true friend and send this article to all your friends you care about.
This is a very good article. Not only about the warm water after your meal, but about Heart Attacks . The Chinese and Japanese drink hot tea with their meals, not cold water, maybe it is time we adopt their drinking habit while eating.
For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you. It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.
C ommon Symptoms Of Heart Attack...
A serious note about heart attacks - You should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting. Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line.
You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack. Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms. 60% of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know, the better chance we could survive.
A cardiologist says if everyone who reads this message sends it to 10 people, you can be sure that we'll save at least one life. Read this & Send to a friend. It could save a life. So, please be a true friend and send this article to all your friends you care about.
sábado, 23 de enero de 2010
PERU STARTER KIT, What you should know before coming to Peru
PERU STARTER KIT, What you should know before coming to Peru
1. AIRPORT / ARRIVAL
Lima’s “Jorge Chavez” Airport is where your flight from the USA/Europe will arrive. It’s a busy airport, but not an enormous one. Most of the crowds will be on the outside looking in, watching for arriving friends and family.
Whichever way you arrive, note that you will have to pay departure taxes of $6-$30 at each airport.
2. TIME ZONE / PHONING HOME
All of Peru is 2 hours ahead of West Coast time; 1 hour behind the East Coast.
The Peruvian telephone system was privatized several years ago and bought by a Spanish firm which has substantially improved the service. If you’d like to phone back to the U.S./Europe, it is best to check with the front desk of our hotel to find out how. Although previously phone calls had to be “ordered” (i.e., calling the operator to request a call, and then waiting minutes or hours for it to be placed through), now you can generally dial direct from all over Peru. Phone calls are not included in the trip price, so please make sure to settle your hotel phone bill before you leave.
The Peruvian country code is 51. To call a Peruvian number from overseas, dial the international access code (011 in the USA), followed by the country code, city code (Lima is 1, Cusco is 84) followed by the six or seven digit number.
3. CURRENCY
Peru’s currency is the “Nuevo Sol” (literally, new sun), but people use the term sol for one, and soles for more than one. The rate changes daily, but it is currently worth about 2.70 to the dollar. There is also a change counter and ATM in the Lima airport terminal, and several in Cusco. In a pinch, however, U.S. dollars are acceptable (bring singles for tipping until you can change money)
As you may know, neither U.S. Banks or airport change counters offer the best rates. Once in Cusco I’ll help you get a better rate at a Casa de Cambio (Exchange House).
Visa, American Express, Dinners credit cards are accepted in Peru (at most hotels, restaurants and shops), for travelers checks banks charge from 2 – 3% for the exchange. You’ll find most prices far lower in Peru than in the USA/Europe
4. ALTITUDE
Cusco’s altitude is 11,000 feet. Though you’ve probably been this high if you’ve driven through the Rocky Mountains or the Sierras, the altitude is a challenge in Peru because you’ll rise to it from sea level in just over an hour by airplane. For this reason, our schedule is to take it very easy on day one. Even if you feel great, please don’t exert yourself on our first day in Cusco.
Once at the hotel, you’ll be served mate, a tea made from the coca leaf. Many people think that in high altitude the idea is to take deep breaths to get more oxygen. In fact, the opposite is true. Shorter, quicker breaths are more effective. Light, healthy eating is a good idea for the first few days too. Avoid alcohol, cigarettes and sleeping pills. Many people avoid eating beef on the first day, to give the digestive system a rest.
If you’d like to take further precautions, you may consider Diamox and other medicines now offered for altitude sickness. Diamox is available by prescription in America, and now, over-the-counter in Peru. However, I cannot comment in depth on other newer medicines. Check with your doctor for details.
The Sacred Valley, Machupicchu and are at a much lower altitude, and will not be a problem after adjusting to Cusco.
More information: http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshelf/Books/41/8.cfm
5. FOOD
If you are open to trying new food, you may love Peruvian food. But as with travel anywhere, there are several precautions to take.
The water in Lima and Cusco is safe. However, as water may have bacteria that locals are used to, it is still a good idea to drink bottled water always, brush your teeth with the same water and be careful when you shower with the tap water. Bottled mineral water is plentiful and inexpensive in Peru. Also always peel fruits and try to avoid uncooked vegetables and ice.
Although Peruvian cuisine is not necessarily spicy, you should be aware of aji, Peruvian chili peppers that can come in several colors, green, red and orange. They are very hot, and served particularly with ceviche, the national dish. The most famous (or infamous) delicacy in the Cusco area is cuy, a delicacy; something the Incas first raised in large quantities. No matter how much it tastes like chicken, you should know that it is actually guinea pig.
Before you leave, you’ll undoubtedly have a chance to try Peru’s best beer and the pride of Cusco, Cusqueña, and it’s the national cocktail, a Pisco Sour.
6. SHOTS/VACCINATIONS
No particular shots are required for Arequipa, Cusco, Machupicchu or Puno. The area's high altitude keeps it out of the malaria zone, and no other diseases in the area have been reported within the last few months by the World Health Organization. If you will be visiting more tropical and jungle regions of the country, i recommend to take yellow fever shots and please follow up with an update on anti-malarials for the region, depending on latest reports. IN THE MEANTIME, PLEASE FIND THE NEAREST "TRAVELER'S MEDICAL CLINIC" or other medical facility that can provide inoculations they may be recommending.
7. VISAS / PASSPORTS / CUSTOMS
For the short stay you’ll have in Peru, no visa is required, as long as you have a valid passport.
When you arrive, you’ll be given a tourist card to fill out along with a customs declaration. The Immigration officer your first stop within the airport in Lima, will hand a small card back to you. You MUST take good care of this card, which is required to be shown for hotels and upon your departure from Peru. Please hold onto this: it is important to have upon departure from Peru. My recommendation is to bring a paper clip along, to attach it inside your passport.
I also recommend making a photocopy of your passport to bring to Peru (of the main, two-page spread which includes your photo). There are cases where you’ll need to carry identification (such as for changing money), where a copy of the passport is sufficient.
Once at the hotel, it is a good idea to put your passports and airplane tickets in the hotel safe.
8. LANGUAGE
Spanish is spoken in Peru, but in many parts of the Andes you’ll hear Quechua, the language of the Incas.
Throughout the trip you’ll be with the local guide who speaks English Quechua and Spanish. Nonetheless, any words you can learn on your own in Spanish may help you have a richer experience in Peru. Quechua is completely unlike either English or Spanish, and you’ll begin to recognize common words during our stay. It was the language of the Incas and was spoken throughout their vast empire.
9. HEALTH & SAFETY ISSUES
Two issues are important to consider when it comes to your enjoyment of the adventure: health and safety.
The biggest threats to your health – altitude sickness (soroche) and feeling ill from bad water – can be handled with some conscious thought and attention.
As for your personal safety, there is absolutely nothing to fear in terms of terrorism or political violence for us in Peru. However, while Peru tends to overestimate these concerns, we sometimes underestimate more mundane issues such as pick pocketing and petty theft. Neither is especially high in Cusco, Puno, Arequipa, Machupicchu , etc or the Rain forest area, but please it is worth paying attention to in Lima.
My first recommendation is not to bring anything to Peru that you couldn’t bear to lose. Expensive jewelry is neither necessary nor appropriate in the places we’ll be going to.
Second, use a money belt for essential items such as passports and large dollar denominations. A fanny pack is better than nothing, but not as effective as something inside the waist of your pants or underneath your shirt.
Third, clothing with pockets that can close with Velcro, a zipper or a button mean you can walk without having to worry about valuables falling out or being snatched.
10. WHAT TO PACK
In order to know what to bring, you of course need to know what weather to expect. You will be visiting Peru at a good time for being outdoors; It is the dry season in the Andes and the rain forest, on the coast it is winter, if is sunny days will in the mid 60’s and low 70’s, with nights getting down to the 40’s (in the Andes). In Machupicchu the range is less great, with highs in the upper 70’s and lows in the 60’s. In the rain forest it is hotter (85’s – 95’) and wet.
You should dress comfortably for an active week. Long pants are essential for Cusco and Puno evenings, but shorts are a lot easier for trail days. To save space, consider the hiking pants that can be zipped off at the thigh, allowing you to adjust during the day on the trail. Those with zippered, velcro or buttoned pockets add to your security too. Likewise shirts/blouses that have some pockets with long sleeves that can be rolled up will work for high altitudes, where temperatures can change quickly. A fleece on top should be more than enough for the hikes, and can be complemented with a Peruvian sweater in Cusco in case it gets colder than expected there.
Peru is a poor country: you’ll find that your clean clothes are more than formal enough for any evening occasions you may partake in.
Most important, as Forrest Gump might say, is comfortable footwear. Go for strong, sturdy and supportive walking shoes/hiking boots. Even if you’re not walking the length of the Inca trail, Cusco is a city of cobblestone streets. It is up to you if you’d like to bring a nicer pairs of shoes for other times, but the truth is, the city’s restaurants are quite used to “Hiker Fashion.”
11. POLITICAL UPDATE
Having democratically elected Alan Garcia, Peru is probably in the best political shape in the past twenty years. The terrorist movements were crushed in the early 90's by Pres. Fujimori, but he in turn became a corrupt leader. Some years ago, he took refuge in Japan, claiming Japanese citizenship, now he is in jail in Peru.
12. WEATHER
Peru has a diversity of microclimates.
On the coast, it almost never rains, it is winter between April and October where it is cool in some areas such as Lima (minimum 12°C/54°F); it is warm (avg. 23°C/74°F) between November and March.
In the Andes, the rainy season (between November and March) is warmer; the dry season (between April and October) is colder, with temperatures below freezing at night, but with good temperate in the day.
In the Rainforest the rainy and dry seasons are the same as in the Andes, but it is generally warm all the time (30°C/86°F).
13. GIFTS:
During the tour we will see and meet many locals, especially kids, and it is always nice to bring for them some gifts like: Pencils, pens, crayons, note books, toys, used clothes, etc, etc. Anything that you could bring will be very welcome!!!
THINGS YOU SHOULD DO / DON’T FORGET TO BRING
1. Get in shape! The better health you are in before arriving, the easier the walking will be on the trail. There’s so much to see in Cusco, and so much more to explore at Machupicchu, that you’ll want as much energy as possible.
2. Check your Passport. If you need a new one, get started now. If you don’t, make two photocopies of the main pages.
3. Take note of your diet and how being in a different country with food choices. Consider multi-vitamins, digestive enzymes and other supplements. Also consider just I case buying Imodium or other anti-diarrheals.
4. Practice packing. As you’ve heard a dozen times, less is more. But especially in Cusco, where there are lots of interesting things to buy, you’ll want room for things to bring back (especially an alpaca or wool sweater which is inexpensive, but sometimes bulky!). Leave behind things that are so valuable that you couldn’t stand to lose them.
DON’T FORGET TO BRING …
To make sure you have an enjoyable trip, I have organized the following list of items you should remember to bring with you. I have arranged the list in order of importance, however, each member may have very many different needs, so don’t count on this to be your ultimate list.
“Must Have” items
Valid passport (must be valid for at least the duration of your trip)
Return ticket
Credit cards: Visa, American, Dinners, etc
Health documents (i.e., proof of vaccinations; if you have them)
Health insurance (if you have)
Dictionary/Electronic translator
Pen, yes a pen!
Clothing
Belt
Hiking Boots (Gore-Tex)
Hat
Light raincoat or jacket (Gore-Tex)
Long-sleeve shirts/pants (these may come in handy to prevent excessive mosquito biting and other unpleasant encounters with nature)
Pouches (waist/leg) for document safekeeping
Sandals
Shoes/sneakers
Shorts
Socks
Sweater (can get chilly in the evening due to altitude)
T-Shirts
Underwear
Health kit and other trip essentials
Mosquito repellent
Advil/Aspirine
Band-aids
Contact lenses/solution
Deodorant
Hairbrush/comb
Lip balm
Lotion
Nail clippers/pocket knife
Prescription glasses
Q-tips/cotton balls
Shaving kit
Sunglasses
Sunscreen / bug repellant
Toothbrush/paste/dental floss
Other equipment
Walking sticks (if you need them to hike)
AC Adaptors (we use 220V)
Backpack
Batteries
Binoculars
Camera, charger, adaptor/cable to download pictures, etc.
Compass
Flashlight
Lighter/matches
Locks
Travel clock/watch
1. AIRPORT / ARRIVAL
Lima’s “Jorge Chavez” Airport is where your flight from the USA/Europe will arrive. It’s a busy airport, but not an enormous one. Most of the crowds will be on the outside looking in, watching for arriving friends and family.
Whichever way you arrive, note that you will have to pay departure taxes of $6-$30 at each airport.
2. TIME ZONE / PHONING HOME
All of Peru is 2 hours ahead of West Coast time; 1 hour behind the East Coast.
The Peruvian telephone system was privatized several years ago and bought by a Spanish firm which has substantially improved the service. If you’d like to phone back to the U.S./Europe, it is best to check with the front desk of our hotel to find out how. Although previously phone calls had to be “ordered” (i.e., calling the operator to request a call, and then waiting minutes or hours for it to be placed through), now you can generally dial direct from all over Peru. Phone calls are not included in the trip price, so please make sure to settle your hotel phone bill before you leave.
The Peruvian country code is 51. To call a Peruvian number from overseas, dial the international access code (011 in the USA), followed by the country code, city code (Lima is 1, Cusco is 84) followed by the six or seven digit number.
3. CURRENCY
Peru’s currency is the “Nuevo Sol” (literally, new sun), but people use the term sol for one, and soles for more than one. The rate changes daily, but it is currently worth about 2.70 to the dollar. There is also a change counter and ATM in the Lima airport terminal, and several in Cusco. In a pinch, however, U.S. dollars are acceptable (bring singles for tipping until you can change money)
As you may know, neither U.S. Banks or airport change counters offer the best rates. Once in Cusco I’ll help you get a better rate at a Casa de Cambio (Exchange House).
Visa, American Express, Dinners credit cards are accepted in Peru (at most hotels, restaurants and shops), for travelers checks banks charge from 2 – 3% for the exchange. You’ll find most prices far lower in Peru than in the USA/Europe
4. ALTITUDE
Cusco’s altitude is 11,000 feet. Though you’ve probably been this high if you’ve driven through the Rocky Mountains or the Sierras, the altitude is a challenge in Peru because you’ll rise to it from sea level in just over an hour by airplane. For this reason, our schedule is to take it very easy on day one. Even if you feel great, please don’t exert yourself on our first day in Cusco.
Once at the hotel, you’ll be served mate, a tea made from the coca leaf. Many people think that in high altitude the idea is to take deep breaths to get more oxygen. In fact, the opposite is true. Shorter, quicker breaths are more effective. Light, healthy eating is a good idea for the first few days too. Avoid alcohol, cigarettes and sleeping pills. Many people avoid eating beef on the first day, to give the digestive system a rest.
If you’d like to take further precautions, you may consider Diamox and other medicines now offered for altitude sickness. Diamox is available by prescription in America, and now, over-the-counter in Peru. However, I cannot comment in depth on other newer medicines. Check with your doctor for details.
The Sacred Valley, Machupicchu and are at a much lower altitude, and will not be a problem after adjusting to Cusco.
More information: http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshelf/Books/41/8.cfm
5. FOOD
If you are open to trying new food, you may love Peruvian food. But as with travel anywhere, there are several precautions to take.
The water in Lima and Cusco is safe. However, as water may have bacteria that locals are used to, it is still a good idea to drink bottled water always, brush your teeth with the same water and be careful when you shower with the tap water. Bottled mineral water is plentiful and inexpensive in Peru. Also always peel fruits and try to avoid uncooked vegetables and ice.
Although Peruvian cuisine is not necessarily spicy, you should be aware of aji, Peruvian chili peppers that can come in several colors, green, red and orange. They are very hot, and served particularly with ceviche, the national dish. The most famous (or infamous) delicacy in the Cusco area is cuy, a delicacy; something the Incas first raised in large quantities. No matter how much it tastes like chicken, you should know that it is actually guinea pig.
Before you leave, you’ll undoubtedly have a chance to try Peru’s best beer and the pride of Cusco, Cusqueña, and it’s the national cocktail, a Pisco Sour.
6. SHOTS/VACCINATIONS
No particular shots are required for Arequipa, Cusco, Machupicchu or Puno. The area's high altitude keeps it out of the malaria zone, and no other diseases in the area have been reported within the last few months by the World Health Organization. If you will be visiting more tropical and jungle regions of the country, i recommend to take yellow fever shots and please follow up with an update on anti-malarials for the region, depending on latest reports. IN THE MEANTIME, PLEASE FIND THE NEAREST "TRAVELER'S MEDICAL CLINIC" or other medical facility that can provide inoculations they may be recommending.
7. VISAS / PASSPORTS / CUSTOMS
For the short stay you’ll have in Peru, no visa is required, as long as you have a valid passport.
When you arrive, you’ll be given a tourist card to fill out along with a customs declaration. The Immigration officer your first stop within the airport in Lima, will hand a small card back to you. You MUST take good care of this card, which is required to be shown for hotels and upon your departure from Peru. Please hold onto this: it is important to have upon departure from Peru. My recommendation is to bring a paper clip along, to attach it inside your passport.
I also recommend making a photocopy of your passport to bring to Peru (of the main, two-page spread which includes your photo). There are cases where you’ll need to carry identification (such as for changing money), where a copy of the passport is sufficient.
Once at the hotel, it is a good idea to put your passports and airplane tickets in the hotel safe.
8. LANGUAGE
Spanish is spoken in Peru, but in many parts of the Andes you’ll hear Quechua, the language of the Incas.
Throughout the trip you’ll be with the local guide who speaks English Quechua and Spanish. Nonetheless, any words you can learn on your own in Spanish may help you have a richer experience in Peru. Quechua is completely unlike either English or Spanish, and you’ll begin to recognize common words during our stay. It was the language of the Incas and was spoken throughout their vast empire.
9. HEALTH & SAFETY ISSUES
Two issues are important to consider when it comes to your enjoyment of the adventure: health and safety.
The biggest threats to your health – altitude sickness (soroche) and feeling ill from bad water – can be handled with some conscious thought and attention.
As for your personal safety, there is absolutely nothing to fear in terms of terrorism or political violence for us in Peru. However, while Peru tends to overestimate these concerns, we sometimes underestimate more mundane issues such as pick pocketing and petty theft. Neither is especially high in Cusco, Puno, Arequipa, Machupicchu , etc or the Rain forest area, but please it is worth paying attention to in Lima.
My first recommendation is not to bring anything to Peru that you couldn’t bear to lose. Expensive jewelry is neither necessary nor appropriate in the places we’ll be going to.
Second, use a money belt for essential items such as passports and large dollar denominations. A fanny pack is better than nothing, but not as effective as something inside the waist of your pants or underneath your shirt.
Third, clothing with pockets that can close with Velcro, a zipper or a button mean you can walk without having to worry about valuables falling out or being snatched.
10. WHAT TO PACK
In order to know what to bring, you of course need to know what weather to expect. You will be visiting Peru at a good time for being outdoors; It is the dry season in the Andes and the rain forest, on the coast it is winter, if is sunny days will in the mid 60’s and low 70’s, with nights getting down to the 40’s (in the Andes). In Machupicchu the range is less great, with highs in the upper 70’s and lows in the 60’s. In the rain forest it is hotter (85’s – 95’) and wet.
You should dress comfortably for an active week. Long pants are essential for Cusco and Puno evenings, but shorts are a lot easier for trail days. To save space, consider the hiking pants that can be zipped off at the thigh, allowing you to adjust during the day on the trail. Those with zippered, velcro or buttoned pockets add to your security too. Likewise shirts/blouses that have some pockets with long sleeves that can be rolled up will work for high altitudes, where temperatures can change quickly. A fleece on top should be more than enough for the hikes, and can be complemented with a Peruvian sweater in Cusco in case it gets colder than expected there.
Peru is a poor country: you’ll find that your clean clothes are more than formal enough for any evening occasions you may partake in.
Most important, as Forrest Gump might say, is comfortable footwear. Go for strong, sturdy and supportive walking shoes/hiking boots. Even if you’re not walking the length of the Inca trail, Cusco is a city of cobblestone streets. It is up to you if you’d like to bring a nicer pairs of shoes for other times, but the truth is, the city’s restaurants are quite used to “Hiker Fashion.”
11. POLITICAL UPDATE
Having democratically elected Alan Garcia, Peru is probably in the best political shape in the past twenty years. The terrorist movements were crushed in the early 90's by Pres. Fujimori, but he in turn became a corrupt leader. Some years ago, he took refuge in Japan, claiming Japanese citizenship, now he is in jail in Peru.
12. WEATHER
Peru has a diversity of microclimates.
On the coast, it almost never rains, it is winter between April and October where it is cool in some areas such as Lima (minimum 12°C/54°F); it is warm (avg. 23°C/74°F) between November and March.
In the Andes, the rainy season (between November and March) is warmer; the dry season (between April and October) is colder, with temperatures below freezing at night, but with good temperate in the day.
In the Rainforest the rainy and dry seasons are the same as in the Andes, but it is generally warm all the time (30°C/86°F).
13. GIFTS:
During the tour we will see and meet many locals, especially kids, and it is always nice to bring for them some gifts like: Pencils, pens, crayons, note books, toys, used clothes, etc, etc. Anything that you could bring will be very welcome!!!
THINGS YOU SHOULD DO / DON’T FORGET TO BRING
1. Get in shape! The better health you are in before arriving, the easier the walking will be on the trail. There’s so much to see in Cusco, and so much more to explore at Machupicchu, that you’ll want as much energy as possible.
2. Check your Passport. If you need a new one, get started now. If you don’t, make two photocopies of the main pages.
3. Take note of your diet and how being in a different country with food choices. Consider multi-vitamins, digestive enzymes and other supplements. Also consider just I case buying Imodium or other anti-diarrheals.
4. Practice packing. As you’ve heard a dozen times, less is more. But especially in Cusco, where there are lots of interesting things to buy, you’ll want room for things to bring back (especially an alpaca or wool sweater which is inexpensive, but sometimes bulky!). Leave behind things that are so valuable that you couldn’t stand to lose them.
DON’T FORGET TO BRING …
To make sure you have an enjoyable trip, I have organized the following list of items you should remember to bring with you. I have arranged the list in order of importance, however, each member may have very many different needs, so don’t count on this to be your ultimate list.
“Must Have” items
Valid passport (must be valid for at least the duration of your trip)
Return ticket
Credit cards: Visa, American, Dinners, etc
Health documents (i.e., proof of vaccinations; if you have them)
Health insurance (if you have)
Dictionary/Electronic translator
Pen, yes a pen!
Clothing
Belt
Hiking Boots (Gore-Tex)
Hat
Light raincoat or jacket (Gore-Tex)
Long-sleeve shirts/pants (these may come in handy to prevent excessive mosquito biting and other unpleasant encounters with nature)
Pouches (waist/leg) for document safekeeping
Sandals
Shoes/sneakers
Shorts
Socks
Sweater (can get chilly in the evening due to altitude)
T-Shirts
Underwear
Health kit and other trip essentials
Mosquito repellent
Advil/Aspirine
Band-aids
Contact lenses/solution
Deodorant
Hairbrush/comb
Lip balm
Lotion
Nail clippers/pocket knife
Prescription glasses
Q-tips/cotton balls
Shaving kit
Sunglasses
Sunscreen / bug repellant
Toothbrush/paste/dental floss
Other equipment
Walking sticks (if you need them to hike)
AC Adaptors (we use 220V)
Backpack
Batteries
Binoculars
Camera, charger, adaptor/cable to download pictures, etc.
Compass
Flashlight
Lighter/matches
Locks
Travel clock/watch
miércoles, 13 de enero de 2010
Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu itself was far off the beaten path and served as a royal estate populated by the ruling Inca and several hundred servants. It required regular infusions of goods and services from Cuzco and other parts of the empire. This is evidenced by the fact that there are no large government storage facilities at the site. A 1997 study concluded that the site's argicultural potential would not have been sufficient to support residents, even on a seasonal basis.
Effect of the conquest
It is not completely known the true extent of the road network, as the Spaniards, post conquest, either dug up the road completely in some areas, or allowed it to deteriorate and fall into ruin under iron horse hooves, or the metal wheels of their ox-carts
Patrimony in peril
Today, only 25% percent of this route is still visible, the rest having been destroyed by the construction of modern infrastructure. It is not only studded with archeological marvels, including those of Ingapirca in Ecuador, Cusco in Peru, Tiwanaku in Bolivia and Quilmes in Argentina, it also includes hundreds of major and minor sites. It passes through a plethora of eco-regions, 4 of global importance, and includes such endangered fauna as the vicuña, spectacled Andean bear and the condor. But more than that, it is a road that connects a multitude of Andean villages whose customs and traditions are still practiced and which holds the potential to revitalize and strengthen a common identity.
Different organizations such as UNESCO and IUCN have been working to protect this ancient route, in collaboration with the governments and communities of the 6 countries through which the Great Inca Road passes.
The objective of UNESCO is to assist the countries that share this common heritage in a pioneering project: the preparation of a unique candidature to inscribe the Qhapaq Ñan as a World Heritage Site.
Machu Picchu itself was far off the beaten path and served as a royal estate populated by the ruling Inca and several hundred servants. It required regular infusions of goods and services from Cuzco and other parts of the empire. This is evidenced by the fact that there are no large government storage facilities at the site. A 1997 study concluded that the site's argicultural potential would not have been sufficient to support residents, even on a seasonal basis.
Effect of the conquest
It is not completely known the true extent of the road network, as the Spaniards, post conquest, either dug up the road completely in some areas, or allowed it to deteriorate and fall into ruin under iron horse hooves, or the metal wheels of their ox-carts
Patrimony in peril
Today, only 25% percent of this route is still visible, the rest having been destroyed by the construction of modern infrastructure. It is not only studded with archeological marvels, including those of Ingapirca in Ecuador, Cusco in Peru, Tiwanaku in Bolivia and Quilmes in Argentina, it also includes hundreds of major and minor sites. It passes through a plethora of eco-regions, 4 of global importance, and includes such endangered fauna as the vicuña, spectacled Andean bear and the condor. But more than that, it is a road that connects a multitude of Andean villages whose customs and traditions are still practiced and which holds the potential to revitalize and strengthen a common identity.
Different organizations such as UNESCO and IUCN have been working to protect this ancient route, in collaboration with the governments and communities of the 6 countries through which the Great Inca Road passes.
The objective of UNESCO is to assist the countries that share this common heritage in a pioneering project: the preparation of a unique candidature to inscribe the Qhapaq Ñan as a World Heritage Site.
jueves, 20 de agosto de 2009
sacred city of Machu Picchu
sacred city of Machu Picchu
The ruins of Machu Picchu, rediscovered in 1911 by Yale archaeologist Hiram Bingham, are one of the most beautiful and enigmatic ancient sites in the world. While the Inca people certainly used the Andean mountain top (9060 feet elevation), erecting many hundreds of stone structures from the early 1400's, legends and myths indicate that Machu Picchu (meaning 'Old Peak' in the Quechua language) was revered as a sacred place from a far earlier time. Whatever its origins, the Inca turned the site into a small (5 square miles) but extraordinary city. Invisible from below and completely self-contained, surrounded by agricultural terraces sufficient to feed the population, and watered by natural springs, Machu Picchu seems to have been utilized by the Inca as a secret ceremonial city. Two thousand feet above the rumbling Urubamba river, the cloud shrouded ruins have palaces, baths, temples, storage rooms and some 150 houses, all in a remarkable state of preservation. These structures, carved from the gray granite of the mountain top are wonders of both architectural and aesthetic genius. Many of the building blocks weigh 50 tons or more yet are so precisely sculpted and fitted together with such exactitude that the mortarless joints will not permit the insertion of even a thin knife blade. Little is known of the social or religious use of the site during Inca times. The skeletal remains of ten females to one male had led to the casual assumption that the site may have been a sanctuary for the training of priestesses and /or brides for the Inca nobility. However, subsequent osteological examination of the bones revealed an equal number of male bones, thereby indicating that Machu Picchu was not exclusively a temple or dwelling place of women.
One of Machu Picchu's primary functions was that of astronomical observatory. The Intihuatana stone (meaning 'Hitching Post of the Sun') has been shown to be a precise indicator of the date of the two equinoxes and other significant celestial periods. The Intihuatana (also called the Saywa or Sukhanka stone) is designed to hitch the sun at the two equinoxes, not at the solstice (as is stated in some tourist literature and new-age books). At midday on March 21st and September 21st, the sun stands almost directly above the pillar, creating no shadow at all. At this precise moment the sun "sits with all his might upon the pillar" and is for a moment "tied" to the rock. At these periods, the Incas held ceremonies at the stone in which they "tied the sun" to halt its northward movement in the sky. There is also an Intihuatana alignment with the December solstice (the summer solstice of the southern hemisphere), when at sunset the sun sinks behind Pumasillo (the Puma's claw), the most sacred mountain of the western Vilcabamba range, but the shrine itself is primarily equinoctial.
Shamanic legends say that when sensitive persons touch their foreheads to the stone, the Intihuatana opens one's vision to the spirit world (the author had such an experience, which is described in detail in Chapter one of Places of Peace and Power, on the web site, www.sacredsites.com). Intihuatana stones were the supremely sacred objects of the Inca people and were systematically searched for and destroyed by the Spaniards. When the Intihuatana stone was broken at an Inca shrine, the Inca believed that the deities of the place died or departed. The Spaniards never found Machu Picchu, even though they suspected its existence, thus the Intihuatana stone and its resident spirits remain in their original position. The mountain top sanctuary fell into disuse and was abandoned some forty years after the Spanish took Cuzco in 1533. Supply lines linking the many Inca social centers were disrupted and the great empire came to an end. The photograph shows the ruins of Machu Picchu in the foreground with the sacred peak of Wayna Picchu towering behind. Partway down the northern side of Wayna Picchu is the so-called "Temple of the Moon" inside a cavern. As with the ruins of Machu Picchu, there is no archaeological or iconographical evidence to substantiate the 'new-age' assumption that this cave was a goddess site.
The ruins of Machu Picchu, rediscovered in 1911 by Yale archaeologist Hiram Bingham, are one of the most beautiful and enigmatic ancient sites in the world. While the Inca people certainly used the Andean mountain top (9060 feet elevation), erecting many hundreds of stone structures from the early 1400's, legends and myths indicate that Machu Picchu (meaning 'Old Peak' in the Quechua language) was revered as a sacred place from a far earlier time. Whatever its origins, the Inca turned the site into a small (5 square miles) but extraordinary city. Invisible from below and completely self-contained, surrounded by agricultural terraces sufficient to feed the population, and watered by natural springs, Machu Picchu seems to have been utilized by the Inca as a secret ceremonial city. Two thousand feet above the rumbling Urubamba river, the cloud shrouded ruins have palaces, baths, temples, storage rooms and some 150 houses, all in a remarkable state of preservation. These structures, carved from the gray granite of the mountain top are wonders of both architectural and aesthetic genius. Many of the building blocks weigh 50 tons or more yet are so precisely sculpted and fitted together with such exactitude that the mortarless joints will not permit the insertion of even a thin knife blade. Little is known of the social or religious use of the site during Inca times. The skeletal remains of ten females to one male had led to the casual assumption that the site may have been a sanctuary for the training of priestesses and /or brides for the Inca nobility. However, subsequent osteological examination of the bones revealed an equal number of male bones, thereby indicating that Machu Picchu was not exclusively a temple or dwelling place of women.
One of Machu Picchu's primary functions was that of astronomical observatory. The Intihuatana stone (meaning 'Hitching Post of the Sun') has been shown to be a precise indicator of the date of the two equinoxes and other significant celestial periods. The Intihuatana (also called the Saywa or Sukhanka stone) is designed to hitch the sun at the two equinoxes, not at the solstice (as is stated in some tourist literature and new-age books). At midday on March 21st and September 21st, the sun stands almost directly above the pillar, creating no shadow at all. At this precise moment the sun "sits with all his might upon the pillar" and is for a moment "tied" to the rock. At these periods, the Incas held ceremonies at the stone in which they "tied the sun" to halt its northward movement in the sky. There is also an Intihuatana alignment with the December solstice (the summer solstice of the southern hemisphere), when at sunset the sun sinks behind Pumasillo (the Puma's claw), the most sacred mountain of the western Vilcabamba range, but the shrine itself is primarily equinoctial.
Shamanic legends say that when sensitive persons touch their foreheads to the stone, the Intihuatana opens one's vision to the spirit world (the author had such an experience, which is described in detail in Chapter one of Places of Peace and Power, on the web site, www.sacredsites.com). Intihuatana stones were the supremely sacred objects of the Inca people and were systematically searched for and destroyed by the Spaniards. When the Intihuatana stone was broken at an Inca shrine, the Inca believed that the deities of the place died or departed. The Spaniards never found Machu Picchu, even though they suspected its existence, thus the Intihuatana stone and its resident spirits remain in their original position. The mountain top sanctuary fell into disuse and was abandoned some forty years after the Spanish took Cuzco in 1533. Supply lines linking the many Inca social centers were disrupted and the great empire came to an end. The photograph shows the ruins of Machu Picchu in the foreground with the sacred peak of Wayna Picchu towering behind. Partway down the northern side of Wayna Picchu is the so-called "Temple of the Moon" inside a cavern. As with the ruins of Machu Picchu, there is no archaeological or iconographical evidence to substantiate the 'new-age' assumption that this cave was a goddess site.
about Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is a city located high in the Andes Mountains in modern Peru. It lies 43 miles northwest of Cuzco at the top of a ridge, hiding it from the Urabamba gorge below. The ridge is between a block of highland and the massive Huaynac Picchu, around which the Urubamba River takes a sharp bend. The surrounding area is covered in dense bush, some of it covering Pre-Colombian cultivation terraces.
Machu Picchu (which means "Old Peak") was most likely a royal estate and religious retreat. It was built between 1460 and 1470 AD by Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui, an Incan ruler. The city has an altitude of 8,000 feet, and is high above the Urubamba River canyon cloud forest, so it likely did not have any administrative, military or commercial use. After Pachacuti’s death, Machu Picchu became the property of his allus, or kinship group, which was responsible for it’s maintenance, administration, and any new construction.
Machu Picchu is comprised of approximately 200 buildings, most being residences, although there are temples, storage structures and other public buildings. It has polygonal masonry, characteristic of the late Inca period.
About 1,200 people lived in and around Machu Picchu, most of them women, children, and priests. The buildings are thought to have been planned and built under the supervision of professional Inca architects. Most of the structures are built of granite blocks cut with bronze or stone tools, and smoothed with sand. The blocks fit together perfectly without mortar, although none of the blocks are the same size and have many faces; some have as many as 30 corners. The joints are so tight that even the thinnest of knife blades can't be forced between the stones. Another unique thing about Machu Picchu is the integration of the architecture into the landscape. Existing stone formations were used in the construction of structures, sculptures are carved into the rock, water flows through cisterns and stone channels, and temples hang on steep precipices.
The houses had steep thatched roofs and trapezoidal doors; windows were unusual. Some of the houses were two stories tall; the second story was probably reached by ladder, which likely was made of rope since there weren’t many trees at Machu Picchu’s altitude. The houses, in groups of up to ten gathered around a communal courtyard, or aligned on narrow terraces, were connected by narrow alleys. At the center were large open squares; livestock enclosures and terraces for growing maize stretched around the edge of the city.
The Incas planted crops such as potatoes and maize at Machu Picchu. To get the highest yield possible, they used advanced terracing and irrigation methods to reduce erosion and increase the area available for cultivation. However, it probably did not produce a large enough surplus to export agricultural products to Cuzco, the Incan capital.
One of the most important things found at Machu Picchu is the intihuatana, which is a column of stone rising from a block of stone the size of a grand piano. Intihuatana literally means ‘for tying the sun", although it is usually translated as "hitching post of the sun". As the winter solstice approached, when the sun seemed to disappear more each day, a priest would hold a ceremony to tie the sun to the stone to prevent the sun from disappearing altogether. The other intihuatanas were destroyed by the Spanish conquistadors, but because the Spanish never found Machu Picchu, it remained intact. Mummies have also been found there; most of the mummies were women.
Few people outside the Inca’s closest retainers were actually aware of Machu Picchu’s existence. Before the Spanish conquistadors arrived, the smallpox spread ahead of them. Fifty percent of the population had been killed by the disease by 1527. The government began to fail, part of the empire seceded and it fell into civil war. So by the time Pizarro, the Inca’s conquerer, arrived in Cuzco in 1532, Machu Picchu was already forgotten.
View of the Machu Picchu ruins and Huaynu Picchu, the peak on the right, from the agricultural terraces. The small center peak is the location of the Intihuatana. The plaza area is in its foreground.
Machu Picchu was rediscovered in 1911 by Hiram Bingham, a professor from Yale. Bingham was searching for Vilcabamba, which was the undiscovered last stronghold of the Incan empire. When he stumbled upon Machu Picchu, he thought he had found it, although now most scholars believe that Machu Picchu is not Vilcabamba. Machu Picchu was never completely forgotten, as a few people still lived in the area, where they were "free from undesirable visitors, officials looking for army ‘volunteers’ or collecting taxes", as they told Bingham
Machu Picchu (which means "Old Peak") was most likely a royal estate and religious retreat. It was built between 1460 and 1470 AD by Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui, an Incan ruler. The city has an altitude of 8,000 feet, and is high above the Urubamba River canyon cloud forest, so it likely did not have any administrative, military or commercial use. After Pachacuti’s death, Machu Picchu became the property of his allus, or kinship group, which was responsible for it’s maintenance, administration, and any new construction.
Machu Picchu is comprised of approximately 200 buildings, most being residences, although there are temples, storage structures and other public buildings. It has polygonal masonry, characteristic of the late Inca period.
About 1,200 people lived in and around Machu Picchu, most of them women, children, and priests. The buildings are thought to have been planned and built under the supervision of professional Inca architects. Most of the structures are built of granite blocks cut with bronze or stone tools, and smoothed with sand. The blocks fit together perfectly without mortar, although none of the blocks are the same size and have many faces; some have as many as 30 corners. The joints are so tight that even the thinnest of knife blades can't be forced between the stones. Another unique thing about Machu Picchu is the integration of the architecture into the landscape. Existing stone formations were used in the construction of structures, sculptures are carved into the rock, water flows through cisterns and stone channels, and temples hang on steep precipices.
The houses had steep thatched roofs and trapezoidal doors; windows were unusual. Some of the houses were two stories tall; the second story was probably reached by ladder, which likely was made of rope since there weren’t many trees at Machu Picchu’s altitude. The houses, in groups of up to ten gathered around a communal courtyard, or aligned on narrow terraces, were connected by narrow alleys. At the center were large open squares; livestock enclosures and terraces for growing maize stretched around the edge of the city.
The Incas planted crops such as potatoes and maize at Machu Picchu. To get the highest yield possible, they used advanced terracing and irrigation methods to reduce erosion and increase the area available for cultivation. However, it probably did not produce a large enough surplus to export agricultural products to Cuzco, the Incan capital.
One of the most important things found at Machu Picchu is the intihuatana, which is a column of stone rising from a block of stone the size of a grand piano. Intihuatana literally means ‘for tying the sun", although it is usually translated as "hitching post of the sun". As the winter solstice approached, when the sun seemed to disappear more each day, a priest would hold a ceremony to tie the sun to the stone to prevent the sun from disappearing altogether. The other intihuatanas were destroyed by the Spanish conquistadors, but because the Spanish never found Machu Picchu, it remained intact. Mummies have also been found there; most of the mummies were women.
Few people outside the Inca’s closest retainers were actually aware of Machu Picchu’s existence. Before the Spanish conquistadors arrived, the smallpox spread ahead of them. Fifty percent of the population had been killed by the disease by 1527. The government began to fail, part of the empire seceded and it fell into civil war. So by the time Pizarro, the Inca’s conquerer, arrived in Cuzco in 1532, Machu Picchu was already forgotten.
View of the Machu Picchu ruins and Huaynu Picchu, the peak on the right, from the agricultural terraces. The small center peak is the location of the Intihuatana. The plaza area is in its foreground.
Machu Picchu was rediscovered in 1911 by Hiram Bingham, a professor from Yale. Bingham was searching for Vilcabamba, which was the undiscovered last stronghold of the Incan empire. When he stumbled upon Machu Picchu, he thought he had found it, although now most scholars believe that Machu Picchu is not Vilcabamba. Machu Picchu was never completely forgotten, as a few people still lived in the area, where they were "free from undesirable visitors, officials looking for army ‘volunteers’ or collecting taxes", as they told Bingham
martes, 28 de julio de 2009
Inti Raymi, Festival of the Sun
Inti Raymi, Festival of the Sun
Before the colonial Spaniards banned the ceremonial events occurring each Winter Solstices cusco, the native residents gathered to honor the Sun God, sacrifice an animal to ensure good crops and to pay homage to the Inca, as the first born Son of the Sun.
The ceremonies took place at the winter solstice, when the sun is farthest from the earth. Fearing the lack of sun and ensuing famine, the ancient Incas gathered in Cuzco to honor the Sun God and plead for his return. The celebrants fasted for days before the event, refrained from physical pleasures and presented gifts to the Inca, who in return put on a lavish banquet of meat, corn bread, chicha and coca tea as they prepared to sacrifice llamas to ensure good crops and fertile fields.
In 1572, Viceroy Toledo banned Inti Raymi celebrations as pagan and contrary to the Catholic faith. Following the edict, the ceremonies went underground.
Today, it's the second largest festival in South America. Hundreds of thousands of people converge on Cuzco from other parts of the nation, South America and the world for a week long celebration marking the beginning of a new year, the Inti Raymi, the Festival of the Sun.
Every day has its events, from daytime expositions, street fairs, and people milling and dancing in the streets. In the evenings, live music from the best of Peruvian musical groups draws the crowds to the Plaza de Armas for free concerts. During the preceding year, in preparation for Inti Raymi, hundreds of actors are chosen to represent historical figures. Being selected to portray the Sapa Inca or his wife, Mama Occla, is a great honor.
The centerpiece of the festival is the all-day celebrations on June 24, the actual day of Inti Raymi. On this day, the ceremonial events begin with an invocation by the Sapa Inca in the Qorikancha, also spelled Koricancha (pictured) square in front of the Santo Domingo church, built over the ancient Temple of the Sun. Here, the Sapa Inca calls on the blessings from the sun. Following the oration, Sapa Inca is carried on a golden throne, a replica of the original which weighed about 60 kilos, in a procession to the ancient fortress saqsaywaman, in the hills above Cuzco. With the Sapa Inca come the high priests, garbed in ceremonial robes, then officials of the court, nobles and others, all elaborately costumed according to their rank, with silver and gold ornaments.
They walk along flower-bedecked streets, to music and prayers and dancing. Women sweep the streets to clear them of evil spirits. At Sacsayhuamán , where huge crowds await the arrival of the procession, Sapa Inca climbs to the sacred altar where all can see him.
Once all the celebrants are in place in the grand square of the fortress, there are speeches by Sapa Inca, the priests and representatives of the Suyos: the Snake for the world below, the Puma for life on earth, and the Condor for the upper world of the gods.
A white llama is sacrificed (now in a very realistic stage act) and the high priest holds aloft the bloody heart in honor of Pachamama. This is done to ensure the fertility of the earth which in combination with light and warmth from the sun provides a bountiful crop. The priests read the blood stains to see the future for the Inca.
As the sun begins to set, stacks of straw are set on fire and the celebrants dance around them to honor Tawantinsuty or the Empire of the Four Wind Directions. In ancient times, no fire was allowed that day until the evening fires.
The ceremony of Inti Raymi ends with a procession back to Cuzco. Sapa Inca and Mama Occla are carried on their thrones, the high priests and representatives of the Supas pronounce blessings on the people. Once again, a new year has begun.
June 24 is also celebrated throughout Peru as Indians Day or Peasants Day.
Things to know:
Inti Raymi is an all-day event, with at least five hours spent at Sacsayhuamán. Entry to the fortress is free, and rental chairs are available from booths around the main square. There are also food and drink vendors. There are no guard rails on the ruins and every year people are injured in falls. If you want a reserved seat, they are available with tickets bought in advance.
Lodgings are booked far in advance for the festival week. Hotels and restaurants do a booming business. While you are there, it may be difficult to get an unobstructed view of the Inca method of building using stones and no mortar, but buy a visitor ticket which is valid for ten days and gets you into fourteen important sites in Cuzco.
Tell us about your experiences! What not to miss, what to avoid and how to manage the crowds
Before the colonial Spaniards banned the ceremonial events occurring each Winter Solstices cusco, the native residents gathered to honor the Sun God, sacrifice an animal to ensure good crops and to pay homage to the Inca, as the first born Son of the Sun.
The ceremonies took place at the winter solstice, when the sun is farthest from the earth. Fearing the lack of sun and ensuing famine, the ancient Incas gathered in Cuzco to honor the Sun God and plead for his return. The celebrants fasted for days before the event, refrained from physical pleasures and presented gifts to the Inca, who in return put on a lavish banquet of meat, corn bread, chicha and coca tea as they prepared to sacrifice llamas to ensure good crops and fertile fields.
In 1572, Viceroy Toledo banned Inti Raymi celebrations as pagan and contrary to the Catholic faith. Following the edict, the ceremonies went underground.
Today, it's the second largest festival in South America. Hundreds of thousands of people converge on Cuzco from other parts of the nation, South America and the world for a week long celebration marking the beginning of a new year, the Inti Raymi, the Festival of the Sun.
Every day has its events, from daytime expositions, street fairs, and people milling and dancing in the streets. In the evenings, live music from the best of Peruvian musical groups draws the crowds to the Plaza de Armas for free concerts. During the preceding year, in preparation for Inti Raymi, hundreds of actors are chosen to represent historical figures. Being selected to portray the Sapa Inca or his wife, Mama Occla, is a great honor.
The centerpiece of the festival is the all-day celebrations on June 24, the actual day of Inti Raymi. On this day, the ceremonial events begin with an invocation by the Sapa Inca in the Qorikancha, also spelled Koricancha (pictured) square in front of the Santo Domingo church, built over the ancient Temple of the Sun. Here, the Sapa Inca calls on the blessings from the sun. Following the oration, Sapa Inca is carried on a golden throne, a replica of the original which weighed about 60 kilos, in a procession to the ancient fortress saqsaywaman, in the hills above Cuzco. With the Sapa Inca come the high priests, garbed in ceremonial robes, then officials of the court, nobles and others, all elaborately costumed according to their rank, with silver and gold ornaments.
They walk along flower-bedecked streets, to music and prayers and dancing. Women sweep the streets to clear them of evil spirits. At Sacsayhuamán , where huge crowds await the arrival of the procession, Sapa Inca climbs to the sacred altar where all can see him.
Once all the celebrants are in place in the grand square of the fortress, there are speeches by Sapa Inca, the priests and representatives of the Suyos: the Snake for the world below, the Puma for life on earth, and the Condor for the upper world of the gods.
A white llama is sacrificed (now in a very realistic stage act) and the high priest holds aloft the bloody heart in honor of Pachamama. This is done to ensure the fertility of the earth which in combination with light and warmth from the sun provides a bountiful crop. The priests read the blood stains to see the future for the Inca.
As the sun begins to set, stacks of straw are set on fire and the celebrants dance around them to honor Tawantinsuty or the Empire of the Four Wind Directions. In ancient times, no fire was allowed that day until the evening fires.
The ceremony of Inti Raymi ends with a procession back to Cuzco. Sapa Inca and Mama Occla are carried on their thrones, the high priests and representatives of the Supas pronounce blessings on the people. Once again, a new year has begun.
June 24 is also celebrated throughout Peru as Indians Day or Peasants Day.
Things to know:
Inti Raymi is an all-day event, with at least five hours spent at Sacsayhuamán. Entry to the fortress is free, and rental chairs are available from booths around the main square. There are also food and drink vendors. There are no guard rails on the ruins and every year people are injured in falls. If you want a reserved seat, they are available with tickets bought in advance.
Lodgings are booked far in advance for the festival week. Hotels and restaurants do a booming business. While you are there, it may be difficult to get an unobstructed view of the Inca method of building using stones and no mortar, but buy a visitor ticket which is valid for ten days and gets you into fourteen important sites in Cuzco.
Tell us about your experiences! What not to miss, what to avoid and how to manage the crowds
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