It is clear that the tourist industry is much more build up in Peru. Getting a taxi to the bus terminal our driver knew exactly what the Inka Express was. Entering the bus terminal tours were offered left and right. This is a much bigger difference than the systems working in Bolivia.
On the way to our first stop we passed through the largest city in the Puno district. I had flashbacks of India. Cars were everywhere trying to swerve in front and navigate quickly through the city. This all happened while donkeys, llamas, and people walked down the streets. Other than the main road all of the side roads that you look down were dirt and extremely dusty. It makes me really appreciate the neat and clean living we have in the United States and other areas of the world. I'm already thankful we are taking this route so that we can see some life outside of the tourist developed and catering cities!
Our first stop was the ruins of the Pukara people from 200 AD to 100 Bc. Here we learned about the civilization that influenced the Incas. I was very surprised to learn that the Incas were in the 1500s and not earlier.
One of the things they adopted from the Pukara's was the three tier life system. The condor representing heaven, the puma representing life, and the frog being afterlife. The Incas changed the frog to a snake. I have already purchased a new knife to add to my collection that depicts this belief!
I've probably mentioned it before but I love bus rides. It beats all other forms of transportation while traveling in countries. It allows you to see outside of the city and all of he towns and sights along the way. Passing by the little towns women and children were out hearing their livestock. Many house were left abandoned when the roof collapsed and new houses have sprung up around them. They are built from stacked stone and straw roofs.
At 4300 m we reached La Raya pass which separates Puno and Cusco. In the distance you can see a mountain glacier at 5300 m that empties into the rivers of the sacred valley and near Machu Picchu. My favorite part about this was knowing that I had previously hiked higher than that mountain.
Lunch was a fabulous buffet at a typical tourist bus location. Obviously built solely for tourist bus trips the building housed all types of cultural decorations. Music played while lunched was served to give you a feel of the local musical taste.
After lunch we stopped at an old civilization stop where some of the walls still stand. I can't remember the name but one section was built so that on the winter solstice the sun Luke rise, follow the Main Street, and set at the end. Pretty cool science and architecture for that time period.
On the way out we witnessed the funeral of 19 year old local boy. Still thinking about it gives me chills. The entire town lined up outside of the church to carry the casket out. Women sobbed. An older lady, his grandmother, couldn't watch and walked to a close by shop where she uncontrollable wept.
The funeral had taken place in the Catholic Church but would then proceed down into the nature to continue practice of Incan times and pray to Pachamama as well. As sad as the scene was I found it beautiful that the people still kept both traditions alive. It turns out that during the new year celebrations the day before he had gotten into a nasty fight. Another group of local boys had beaten him to death. Clearly the result of too much alcohol. What a shame that during a celebration of sun, live, and the year a boy would lose his life.
The next two stops were at churches. Here we learned about the evolution of the churches in the area. How Spanish and such came in through the years and changed their beliefs and views. With the language barrier they used paintings on the walls to do their teachings. When the churches were taken over again they decided to just built on top of the previous alters or paintings.
Both churches were beyond gorgeous. I mean they are masterpieces. Peruvian law prohibits photography so unfortunately I couldn't take pictures. They did give us a disc with photos on it that I'll post when I get back. If you are curious Google Sistine chapel of Peru. One guy did all of the paintings in the one church.
The largest painting was in the back of the church. One side depicted the path to heaven while the other the oath to hell. Each side had common factors mirror each other such as the demon or angel pulling you in one direction. The picture showed that the wealthy that indulged in abundance would be pulled down the wrong road but a clear easy path. One of the men walked away from that table and walked the pathway to heaven covered in thorns. A harder but right life takes you to heaven.
On the right side of the church was a massive painting that had similarities to the one in the Sistine chapel. People were being pulled downward and eaten while others went up. The paintings were done to draw in the old religion and teach the new. The puma, condor, and snake could all be found in the section of hell.
The end of the route concluded with my mom, another couple, and a girl named Rose discussing our travels and the fun day we had.
No comments:
Post a Comment