Trip to Peru in May 2011
Last stop in Peru was in the historic town of Cuzco - a few nights in Hotel Monasterrio (old monastery converted into a hotel ) as our base whilst we took in some tours of the outlying sites.
Sacred Valley of the Incas
"Your emperor may be a great prince; I do not doubt it, seeing that he has sent his subjects so far across the waters; and I am willing to treat him as a brother.
As for your pope of whom you speak, he must be mad to speak of giving away countries that do not belong to him.
As for my faith, I will not change it.
Your own God, as you tell me, was put to death by the very men He created. But my God still looks down on His children."
Atahualpa, Inca Chief
(On hearing Pope Alexander VI had declared Peru to be a possession of Spain.)
As for your pope of whom you speak, he must be mad to speak of giving away countries that do not belong to him.
As for my faith, I will not change it.
Your own God, as you tell me, was put to death by the very men He created. But my God still looks down on His children."
Atahualpa, Inca Chief
(On hearing Pope Alexander VI had declared Peru to be a possession of Spain.)
Can you spot the Inca Warrior's profile on the left outline of the mountainside ?
One of the rare gold pieces saved from ransacking Spaniards who took all the Inca gold & melted them down to add to their riches.
Full moon over Monasterrio Courtyard
According to legend, in the beginning, the creator god Viracocha came out of the Pacific Ocean, when he arrived at Lake Titicaca, he created the sun and all ethnic groups. These first people were buried by the god and oly later did they emerge from springs and rocks (sacred 'pacarinas') back into the world. The Incas, were brought into existence at Tiwanaku from the sun god Inti, hence, they regarded themselves as the chosen few, the "Children of the Sun", and the Inca ruler was Inti's representative and embodiment on earth. IN another version of the creation myth, the first Incas came from a sacred cave known as Tampu T'opo ('House of Windows') which was located south of Cusco. The first pair of humans were Manco Capac and his sister (also his wife) Mama Oqllu. Three more brother-sister siblings were born and the group set off together to found their civilization. Defeating the Chanca people with the help of stone warriors , the first Incas finally settle in the Valley of Cusco and Manco Capac, throwing a golden rod into the ground, established what would become the Inca capital, Cusco.
In Cuzco in 1589, Don Mancio Serra de Leguisamo — the last survivor of the original conquerors of Peru — wrote, in the preamble of his will, the following (in parts):
The Spaniards brought smallpox to the Incas and the outbreak of this contagious disease was one of the main reasons attibuted to the ultimate demise of the inhabitants of Machu Picchu.We found these kingdoms in such good order, and the said Incas governed them in such wise [manner] that throughout them there was not a thief, nor a vicious man, nor an adulteress, nor was a bad woman admitted among them, nor were there immoral people. The men had honest and useful occupations. The lands, forests, mines, pastures, houses and all kinds of products were regulated and distributed in such sort that each one knew his property without any other person seizing it or occupying it, nor were there law suits respecting it… the motive which obliges me to make this statement is the discharge of my conscience, as I find myself guilty. For we have destroyed by our evil example, the people who had such a government as was enjoyed by these natives. They were so free from the committal of crimes or excesses, as well men as women, that the Indian who had 100,000 pesos worth of gold or silver in his house, left it open merely placing a small stick against the door, as a sign that its master was out. With that, according to their custom, no one could enter or take anything that was there. When they saw that we put locks and keys on our doors, they supposed that it was from fear of them, that they might not kill us, but not because they believed that anyone would steal the property of another. So that when they found that we had thieves among us, and men who sought to make their daughters commit sin, they despised us.
"The Inca Civilization was wealthy and well-organized, with generally humane treatment of its people, including the vanquished. The empire was really a federal system. It took the Spanish just eight years to all but destroy the richest culture in the Americas, replacing it with a much less just system. Indeed, it has been argued that the Inca's government allowed neither misery nor unemployment, as production, consumption, and demographic distribution reached almost mathematical equilibrium. The main legacy of the civilization lies in its power to inspire, including that of later resistance groups in the area against Spanish rule."
"Pachacuti would send spies to regions he wanted in his empire who would report back on their political organization, military might, and wealth. He would then send messages to the leaders of these lands extolling the benefits of joining his empire, offering them presents of luxury goods such as high quality textiles, and promising that they would be materially richer as subject rulers of the Inca. Most accepted the rule of the Incas as a fait accompli and acquiesced peacefully. The ruler's children would then be brought to Cuzco to be taught about Inca administration systems, then return to rule their native lands. This allowed the Inca to indoctrinate the former ruler's children into the Inca nobility, and, with luck, marry their daughters into families at various corners of the empire."
But of course, the most concrete legacy from the Incas are their marvelous engineering feats of
massive stone architecture and system of roads, aqueducts...(all constructed without benefit of
wheels or mortar) laid with remarkable precision which withstood earthquakes and passages of
time..... ;
as we bore witness to on this trip,.. enjoying our time roaming the grassy terraces of this verdant
and ancient citadel.
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. At midday on March 21st and Sept 21st, the sun stands almost directly above the pillar, creating no shadow at all - thus "tied" to the rock. Shamanic legends tell that when a sensitive person touches their forehead to the Intihautana stone it opens their vision to the spirit world.
From this vantage point, one can clearly see the profile outline of an old Inca Chief. Machu Picchu (meaning'old peak' in the Quechua language) was revered as a sacred ceremonial city. Two thousand feet above the rumbling Urubamba river, the cloud shrouded ruins had palaces, baths, temples, storage rooms and some 150 houses, now all in various states of ruin / preservation. These structures, carved from the gray granite of the mountain top are are marvel in both architectural and aesthetic genius. Many of the building blocks weigh over 50 tons yet were so precisely sculpted and fitted together, not even a knife blade or paper can penetrate the joints.
View of the mountain again in late afternoon - said to be depicting the profile of the old sleeping Inca warrior. The powerful Inca warriors were known for its ferocity and hierarchical organization. during the 1200 to 1535 AD the Inca empire extended across western South America from Quito in the North to Santiago in the South.
As we approached the gateway to sign up for the climb ... we were quite astonished to witness trails of young backpackers emerging from the still darkened foliages surrounding Sanctuary Lodge ... they were the eager climbers from the village below. They hiked from the base of Aguas Calientes leaving at 3am ( as buses don't start to run til 6am ) to ensure a spot to climb Waynapicchu.
At this point we are 85% there - looking back at the MP citadel which is outlined as a Condor in flight
Finding a resting spot at the nose peak to catch our breaths..finally.. no more heights to scale..pheeww..
Beautiful day & unbeatable 360 degree view atop the nose peak.
OK - time to get back down the mountain for lunch...
Taking it down slowly....
Raw Coca leafs - chew it or brew in tea helps one to acclimatize to higher altitudes... it is the leaf of unprocessed cocaine.
Next day - up predawn to witness the fog lifting over MP
Inca sacred number of 3 symbolized the Heaven (Condor), the Mountains (Puma) and the Earth (Snake)
All aboard the beautiful Hiram Bingham train to Machu Picchu.
Passing thru more green pastures on route to Ollantaytombo
Peruvian grandma with flowers to sell ... gave her 10 soles for bunch of calla lily trimmed with pastel hydrangea ;-)
Cruising the road leading from Cusco to Urubamba Valley, views of beautiful Andes mountain ranges
We arrived in Urubamba just around an auspicious time for the Inca people - the full moon in mid-May 2011.
Our Arrival in Lima - Miraflores Park Hotel
A Vegas Encore March 2011
At Jasmine Fountains Brunch @ The Bellagio
Renowned Dale Chihuly's glass sculpture exhibit at Bellagio
Atop the Paris Paris Eiffel Tower view
Wynn Buffet
Pacific Sands Beach Resort by Long Beach
Storm Force! (a west coast tango, of sorts) by Tofino Poet Laureate,
(ii) and so it begins pressure falling, stormwind rising rushing the ocean in sudden runs of steps the sea's skin darkening with every gust air like blood squeezing through the bellows of winter bandoneon! and the wind swings wild, wilder singer and dancer all surging together, apart crescendo, glissando, and oh! the supple backbends of the trees bark peeling, branches spinning from the strong arm of the wind, whirling toward the climax, the dep red centre of the low, the sudden silence before the roar abrazo! heave, surge, spill, devour sea-licked channels penetrate the shore, reach for the dark rim of the forest,
each groove deepened by the in-and-out swell, the in-and-out tide all eyes on the dancer now the reaching sea, windmilling sky the whipped-up shrapnel of froth, jetsam, tangled mounds of dark coiling kelp and oh! the shooting spark of a white bird, emerging soaring through the tunnel of waves, the dips and curves of the dance, and the weighted fist of clouds unclenching, falling open
Beautiful day & unbeatable 360 degree view atop the nose peak.
OK - time to get back down the mountain for lunch...
Taking it down slowly....Raw Coca leafs - chew it or brew in tea helps one to acclimatize to higher altitudes... it is the leaf of unprocessed cocaine.
Next day - up predawn to witness the fog lifting over MP
Early morning sunrise as the fogs starts to lift
Inca sacred number of 3 symbolized the Heaven (Condor), the Mountains (Puma) and the Earth (Snake)
Time to return to Sanctuary Lodge for some hearty breakfast before we embark on the climb to the peak!!
Our first view arriving at dusk to Machu Picchu.
The citadel was closed by then to the tourists .. since our train suffered such delay, we were provided free time to roam the citadel with our guide until nightfall.
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Passing thru area ravaged by 2010 flood. Engineers hard at work to finish repair & secure foundation.
Peruvian grandma with flowers to sell ... gave her 10 soles for bunch of calla lily trimmed with pastel hydrangea ;-)
Due to derailed train ahead of us, we very much appreciated the onboard complimentary bar service and local musicians ... delay was over 2 hrs.
Field Llamas on valley pasture.
Beautiful Aranwa Spa in the middle on nowhere from dirt roads of Urubamba
Lima City Centre
If it never rains in California, the clouds never lifts in Lima....
Our Arrival in Lima - Miraflores Park Hotel
A Vegas Encore March 2011
Best view of the Vegas strip from Mix Ultra Lounge on top level of The Hotel , Mandalay Bay
St. Patty's day - Vegas strip was awash in green - hence the green boa ...later we were curious about the beach night club in Venetian Tao and went to its rooftop beach bar - was just a typical bar scene
Tao nightclub @ Venetian - what was different ? Models clad in skimpy floral bikinis in orchid petal pools
Tofino B.C. - October 2010
Following Ellen's work conference in Vancouver, Tom flew over to join in a car trip to the Pacific Rim. We drove to the very western point of Canada, on the wild island of Tofino.
Joanna Streetly
(i) dance with me nods the wind, with all the intent of a milonguero, hungry for the tryst cabaceo!
and so it begins, glances exchanged the first chord strummed, the unmistakeable ruffle as an ocean gathers her skirts, flourishes them at the fluttering fan of the trees, branches sighing, tempted by the thrill of it, innocent still innocent
parting
cortina
(iii) and after in the forest, the wreckage of trees
finery of branches far-strewn in
the chaos of rapture oh! the chaos
Wickaninnish Inn
Dinner at the Pointe Restaurant of Wickaninnish Inn
Die-hard surfers out at the crack of dawn
Strolling Long Beach where you can still see remanents of 70's homesteads
Dinner at the Pointe Restaurant of Wickaninnish Inn
Jamaica - Negil Beach Sept 2010
(back to where it all started 27 years ago)
Parasailing off the boat - around the beautiful shores of Negril
Lobster anyone ??!??
This is the exact spot we honeymooned back in the fall of 1983. Built up later as Negril Inn ... now simply called The Rooms
New friends and honeymooners came with us along the beach trek to revisit our old haunt & our reminiscing of past vacations...
Survival challenge - which team can build the sturdiest shelter ?!?
Negril beach known for its colorful sunsets
Having some real conch mon !!
We must have witnessed a handful of weddings on the beach and here are two cute newlywed couples... all our best to you.. see you back in 27 years !!!
London UK October 2008
On the Thames
New Globe Theater - Shakespearean
Our place to stay in London, Fraser Suites South Kensington
At Harrods eatery
Shrine at Harrods
Paris France October 2008
Travelling via EuroStar
Beautiful stained glass windows interior & flamboyant gothic architecture of Saint Chapelle
Our stay @ Chambiges Elysees
Charming lobby
Dinner at La Maison de l'Alsace along the Champs Elysees
Altantis, Paradise Island (February 2008)
Stayed at the Cove
First time I truly was in awe of Tuna Steak
Every morning, we trekked across the bridge for our fresh conch salad brought in by the locals...its been a tradition ever since our first visit to Nassau back in the '80s
(back to where it all started 27 years ago)
Lobster anyone ??!??
We must have witnessed a handful of weddings on the beach and here are two cute newlywed couples... all our best to you.. see you back in 27 years !!!
London UK October 2008
Typical Londoners hamming it up :D
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Shrine at Harrods
News of the day ...
Paris France October 2008
Palaise de Justice
Charming lobby
En bateau sur la Seine
Dinner at La Maison de l'Alsace along the Champs Elysees
Altantis, Paradise Island (February 2008)
Stayed at the Cove
First time I truly was in awe of Tuna Steak
Every morning, we trekked across the bridge for our fresh conch salad brought in by the locals...its been a tradition ever since our first visit to Nassau back in the '80s
