Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira |
San Agustin - horse ride |
San Agustin - guide Luis Salazar |
Mineral pool, Coconuco (near Popayan) |
Santuary of Las Lajas |
Slide-Show: golden masterpieces, Gold Museum, Bogota, Colombia
Cathedral of Quito, Ecuador |
Museo Capilla de Hombre, Guayasamin |
Pyramids of Cochasqui | |
Amazon Basin - Rio Napo |
Ingapirca archaeological site |
Catedral de Cuenca |
Vilcabamba - place of longevity |
Amazon Basin - Napo River, with guide Gabriel
Note: these pictures were contributed by our friend from Spain, Alfredo
PERU - SITES AND PLACES
Lord of Sipan funerary tomb |
Huaca de la Luna, Trujillo Moche civilization |
guide Wilmar and Peruvian dog |
Chan Chan (Chumi civilization), guide Lucy |
Cathedral of Trujillo Basilica Menor |
Huanchaco beach resort near Trujillo |
SPECIAL SITE: SLIDE SHOW --Huaca del Sol y de la Luna (The Sun and Moon Monuments) - Moche Civilization
Bolivian hats |
Tiwanaku Archaeological site. |
La Paz - highest capital in the world. | |
Lake Titicaca highest navigable lake in world |
Virgin of Copacabana, patron saint of Bolivia |
Isla del Sol Isla de la Luna (background) |
Children of the Sun, Manco Kapac and Mama Ocllo |
Note: the following pictures of the Uros Floating Islands (near Puno) at Lake Titicaca were contributed by friends from Germany, Johannes and Hedda.
Uros Floating Islands, Lake Titicaca
Note: the following pictures of the INKA EXPRESS -- from Puno to Cuzco -- were also contributed by friends from Germany, Johannes and Hedda.
Inka Express - from Puno to Cuzco
Note: The Sacred Valley tour and Inca Trail pictures will be coming as soon as I get a little help from friends that I made along the way. They promised to send me some pictures because my camera was stolen in Puno, Lake Titicaca.
INKA TRAIL PICTURES - thanks to Sandip
INKA TRAIL PICTURES - thanks to Ann Mickle
INKA TRAIL PICTURES - thanks to Andreas
Guide Hilbert ("Hold Your Llamas") - web page & video
Permission granted by Hilbert Sumire, our guide, to post the video of the Inka Trail on my web page.
Final Note:
Today, Friday June 11th, is the last day for Susie in me in South America. What an adventure it has been. 4 countries in 5 weeks. Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. I would have to say that the highlight of the trip was the 4 day hike to Machu Picchu with SAS Travel tour company. Imagine hiking through the Andes on the Inca Trail, up and down steep passes, through cold and high altitude, chewing coca leaves to avoid altitude sickness. Then imagine eating 3 sumptuous meals a day cooked by the best Peruvian chef in the country. Continue imagining 2 porters carrying your heavy load. They were well paid. And then on the culminating morning, you enter through the sun gate and see the city of Machu Picchu appear through a hazy fog as the sun disperses the mist and brightens the sacred city of the Incas.
Yes, it was an incredible Inca Pilgrimage, through the Sacred Valley and Cuzco, where the great Inca civilization made its center. It was also incredible to learn of all the pre Inca civilizations (Moche, Wari, etc.) that existed before the Inca (rulers) came along to bring all the previous civilizations under the banner of the Sun God (Viracocha).
The indigenous people were particularly impressive, especially the Aymara people in Bolivia on Lake Titicaca.
The Spanish influence, of course, was particularly impressive in the capital cities of Bogota, Quito, Lima, and La Paz, where the central plazas and the cathedrals spoke of the glory of the Spanish Empire that lasted from 1534 to 1820.
There will be more to share when Susie and I get back home to California.
See you all later.
Inka Pilgrimage with my daughter Susie (2010) - MULTIPLY site
Inka Pilgrimage with my daughter Susie (2010) - ONE PAGE (my web page)
Slide Show of Inca Pilgrimage, Multiply Photobook
Inka Pilgrimage: Museums, Tours, Sites (Tickets & Receipts)
Inka Pilgrimage: Videos
1. Guide Gabriel in the Amazon Basin (Rio Napo), doing a ritual cleansing in Shamanic fashion (with palm leaves).
2-3. Guide Virgilio at Pyramids of Cochasqui (Ecuador)
4. Peruvian dog with guide Wilmer at Huaca de la Luna near Trujillo, Peru
5. Cuy (guinea pigs) in a hut at Cochasqui, Ecuador.
6. Gold Museum in Bogota, Colombia.
Special Page: Inspirational Andean (Peruvian) Music and Videos from the spectacular group ALBORADA
My interest in their music started when I heard INKA TAQUI performed by the group Wayrapac in Quito, Ecuador.
I found that the song had been performed and video-taped by ALBORADA.
You Tube Videos of Machu Picchu Centenary (Centennial), 1911-2011