Uploads from brettsnyder, with geodata

38 At a Chincherria

nobody@flickr.com (brettsnyder) — Sat, 10 May 2008 14:44:47 -0700

After Ollantaytambo, we went to a chincheria for a drink and some relaxation. The chincerias all serve a corn beer that's low in alcohol.

25 Pachamanca - Covering the Pit

nobody@flickr.com (brettsnyder) — Sat, 10 May 2008 14:44:19 -0700

brettsnyder posted a photo:

Once all the food was loaded up, he put down some greens (cilantro?) and then covered it with paper and dirt to let it cook for 45 minutes. Pachamanca allows Mother Earth (known as Pachamama in Incan tradition) to cook the food.

56 Irrigation

nobody@flickr.com (brettsnyder) — Sat, 10 May 2008 14:45:28 -0700

brettsnyder posted a photo:

As you can see here, there are water paths running throughout the project. A plug is opened and it takes a day to fill a pan. You can see that happening here. Once it's filled, it takes 3 days to evaporate the water, and then the salt is collected. Then they do it all over again.

71 From the Bottom

nobody@flickr.com (brettsnyder) — Sat, 10 May 2008 14:46:01 -0700

brettsnyder posted a photo:

We walked down to the edge of the jungle at the bottom of the ruins and turned around to see this great shot with the guard house up top.

90 Heading Home

nobody@flickr.com (brettsnyder) — Sat, 10 May 2008 14:46:41 -0700

brettsnyder posted a photo:

Descending into the marine layer in LA after the redeye home from Lima.

88 Kirsten in Pain

nobody@flickr.com (brettsnyder) — Sat, 10 May 2008 14:46:38 -0700

brettsnyder posted a photo:

On our flight back, Kirsten wasn't happy. She had a head cold and we had a plane with a poor pressurization system. So, her head felt like it was going to explode.

55 Salt Pans Down to the Valley

nobody@flickr.com (brettsnyder) — Sat, 10 May 2008 14:45:25 -0700

brettsnyder posted a photo:

Then we went to the unreal salt pans of Maras. Under the ground here, there is a natural spring that picks up salt from the earth. Long ago, they tapped that stream to fill these pans which are owned by each person from the town of Maras. We hiked down to the river in the valley below.

63 Machu Background

nobody@flickr.com (brettsnyder) — Sat, 10 May 2008 14:45:42 -0700

brettsnyder posted a photo:

This is easily my favorite picture of the trip. Behold, Machu Picchu ruins down below with the imposing Wayna Picchu mountain behind.

22 Trying to Fit In With the Locals

nobody@flickr.com (brettsnyder) — Sat, 10 May 2008 14:44:13 -0700

brettsnyder posted a photo:

And I thought I'd try to fit in with the locals. To my left is Chris, one of our excellent guides on the trip. The rest of the kids (except for the one who actually was a local), were on our trip.

17 Cusco From the Air

nobody@flickr.com (brettsnyder) — Sat, 10 May 2008 14:44:02 -0700

brettsnyder posted a photo:

This is Cusco from above. Landing in Cusco is an interesting experience. The mountains to the west are very high, so you have to fly over them and then loop around in the valley to land.

40 Playing Sapo

nobody@flickr.com (brettsnyder) — Sat, 10 May 2008 14:44:52 -0700

brettsnyder posted a photo:

The kids, meanwhile, ended up playing sapo, a game where you throw coins into the little metal frog's mouth.

52 Quinoa

nobody@flickr.com (brettsnyder) — Sat, 10 May 2008 14:45:18 -0700

brettsnyder posted a photo:

Down at the bottom of the circle, we saw them growing quinoa and kiwicha, something we ate a lot of on the trip. It's great stuff.

24 Pachamanca - Heating the Rocks

nobody@flickr.com (brettsnyder) — Sat, 10 May 2008 14:44:16 -0700

brettsnyder posted a photo:

That first night, we had a traditional Pachamanca celebration at our hotel, Sol y Luna. Our fearless chef, Nacho, started by digging a hole in the ground. Then he started a fire and put rocks on top. When the rocks were heated enough, he put out the fire and put the rocks in the ground. Then put the food within the rocks.

57 Nacho Makes Pisco and Carvings

nobody@flickr.com (brettsnyder) — Sat, 10 May 2008 14:45:30 -0700

brettsnyder posted a photo:

Back at the hotel that night, we had a Pisco Sour and fruit carving demonstration by Nacho and his staff. Pisco is a grape brandy and we drank a lot of it (though I still prefer Cusqueña beer). That cool looking flower is actually a watermelon.

80 Pet My Llama

nobody@flickr.com (brettsnyder) — Sat, 10 May 2008 14:46:21 -0700

brettsnyder posted a photo:

I'm tentatively petting the llama, because it's kind of scary how strong that neck is.

83 Cranky Cusco

nobody@flickr.com (brettsnyder) — Sat, 10 May 2008 14:46:28 -0700

brettsnyder posted a photo:

Of course, I had to get my cranky shot in the middle of the plaza.

72 The Condor Room

nobody@flickr.com (brettsnyder) — Sat, 10 May 2008 14:46:03 -0700

brettsnyder posted a photo:

There were some pretty big rocks forming this condor room.

78 Bring It Alpaca

nobody@flickr.com (brettsnyder) — Sat, 10 May 2008 14:46:15 -0700

brettsnyder posted a photo:

After Pisac, we went to Ayanacancha to hang out with alpaca and llamas. Here I am feeding one dude.

23 Entering the Sacred Valley

nobody@flickr.com (brettsnyder) — Sat, 10 May 2008 14:44:14 -0700

brettsnyder posted a photo:

After that visit, we headed into the Sacred Valley, where much of the Incan ruins and sacred spots can be found. Here you can see a lot of farming.

68 Llama Up Stairs

nobody@flickr.com (brettsnyder) — Sat, 10 May 2008 14:45:55 -0700

brettsnyder posted a photo:

Machu Picchu has plenty of llamas wandering around. This one thought he'd climb some stairs and show off his skills.