From Cuzco

We left Cuzco for a long ride over mountains to our destination of Puno, where we would spend the next two nights. Photo: the countryside outside Cuzco. We are again seeing political signs painted on the sides of buildings.

Passing Small Villages

We passed many small villages on our drive. Many villages have welcome statues at their entrances, such as this women holding food of the village.

Oropesa

We made a stop at the village of Oropesa for our tour manager, Julio, to buy some special bread.

Pan Chuta

Pan chuta is made only here though it is sold all over Cuzco and is a gift that shows affection and respect. It is made from local wheat and has added sugar, egg, and spices and herbs. Special woods and eucalyptus leaves in the ovens add to its crust and texture and flavor. We all had samples of the bread––it was very good.

The Countryside

We drove past beautiful countryside.

Rumicolca

We made a quick stop to view the Inca ruins of Rumicolca which served as an Inca customs post.

Roof Ornaments

The people in the Cuzco area and elsewhere in Peru put decorations on their roofs, mainly bulls, always in pairs. They are to bring good fortune, for fertility of crops and livestock, and to bring prosperity. The tradition of roof ornaments dates back to pre–Spanish times, though some have been Christianized, adding crosses.

Andean Women Dress

The Quechua women in the Peruvian High Andes, where we are now, dress in a style that indicates what village they are from. The woman in the photo is wearing a monteras, a traditional hat, of the village where she is from. Her cape is called a lliclla or a manta and is used for warmth and to carry young children and wares. Her wide skirt is called a polleras. The band on the bottom of the skirt also indicates what village she is from. Her wool jacket is called a jobana. Often they are patterned.

Political Candidates

One of the political parties in Peru uses Inca warriors as a symbol of their party.

I have put my photos of the first part of our drive from Cuzco to Puno on a slideshow. Go to http://www.peggysphotos.com/cuzco–to–raqchi–to–puno–1/ (Slide Shows, South America, Peru, “Cuzco to Raqchi to Puno–1”).

Raqchi

We stopped at the Parque Arqueologico de Raqchi, an Inca archaeological site. The Inca Temple of Wiracocha is at Raqchi. It was a control point on an Inca road system that started in Cuzo. It is an adobe enclosure around a large courtyard. Wiracocha was an Inca deity, the giver of all life, and a temple was built both to appease and to honor him.

Raqchi

Close–up of the Temple of Wiracocha.

San Pedro Church

In a courtyard at Raqchi was the colonial San Pedro Church.

San Pedro Church

Inside the church was an icon that is carried in religious processions.

Guinea Pig Last Supper

On the wall of the church was a copy of the Guinea Pig Last Supper painting that hangs in the Cuzco Cathdral and which was painted by Marco Zapata in 1753. The painting shows Jesus and his disciples dining on a local Peruvian delicacy––a guinea pig.

Souvenir Vendors

Also in the courtyard at Raqchi were many souvenir vendors.

Seen from the Road

Back on the road, we saw women washing clothes in a stream.

Abra La Raya

We stopped at Abra La Raya at 14,222.44 feet (4,335 m) to use the restroom and to shop.

Mirror Lake

In the countryside, we passed this mirror lake reflecting the clouds in the sky.

Juliaca

Getting closer to Puno, we drove through the city of Juliaca.

Puno

We made to the city of Puno, population about 150,000.

I have put my photos of Raqchi and our drive from there to Puno on a slideshow. Go to http://www.peggysphotos.com/cuzco_to_raqchi_to_puno_2/ (Slide Shows, South America, Peru, “Cuzco to Raqchi to Puno–2”).