Machu Picchu So you’re visiting Peru and you’d like to eat like the ancient Peruvians (I’m talking 5000 years ago), would you consume guinea pig or Pisco? The 5,000 year-old-winner is guinea pig. On a trip to Peru, savoring...
Machu Picchu
So you’re visiting Peru and you’d like to eat like the ancient Peruvians (I’m talking 5000 years ago), would you consume guinea pig or Pisco? The 5,000 year-old-winner is guinea pig. On a trip to Peru, savoring the ancient delicacy is a must. It’s deep-fried and crispy and tastes similar to turkey or the dark meat on duck. And, yes, it’s often served head and all. Poor babies.
Deep-fried Guinea Pig
Foodies- Rejoice in Peruvian Food!
Three of our intrepid travelers, Connie, Betsy and Beth, recently visited Peru and raved over the guinea pig. In fact, they were impressed with the food in general in this ancient country. “Delicious. Fun. Peru is very foodie”, explained Betsy. It’s very much an agrarian society and everything is freshly prepared. Nothing is processed.
And the Pisco? It’s a grape brandy developed by Spanish settlers in 16th century Peru. It packs a wallop at 60-100 proof and is often served in a delightful Pisco Sour. Did they enjoy their Pisco Sours? Oh, yeah. Girls just want to have fun! This is another must-do for travelers.
Pisco Sour
Food is not the only attraction, though. Ancient pyramids were recently discovered in Caral, about 40 miles north of Lima. They’re actually known to be about 100 years older than the pyramids in Egypt, but they have deteriorated to the point that they’re not as commanding to look at. Because of this discovery, Peru was cited as the “cradle of civilization in the western world”.
You don’t even have to leave Lima to visit ancient ruins. Right in the center of town is an archaeological site called the Huaca Pucllana. This large adobe brick pyramid, thought to be built sometime between 300-700 AD, sits right in the trendiest part of the city, the Miraflores section. Nestled into the archaeological site is a nice restaurant called the Huaca Pucllana. Enjoy some great seafood and a view the ancient pyramid lit up in the evening.
Machu Picchu: Spectacular Destination
The most spectacular tourist destination is by far the ancient site of Machu Picchu in the Andean mountains. Built by two successive emperors, Pachacutec Inca Yupanqui (1438-1471) and Tupac Inca Yupanqui (1472-1493), it’s now considered to be one of the new seven wonders of the world.
Machu Picchu
It sits 7,970 feet above sea level overlooking the Sacred Valley and is thought to be a royal estate. At its peak, it’s estimated around 750 people lived there, mostly servants. The three primary structures, the Intihuatana, the Temple of the Sun and the Room of the Three Windows, were recently reconstructed for tourists. Work on the site continues today.
Unique to the complex are hundreds of man-made terraces constructed for the purpose of farming. Irrigation was not necessary since the region receives on average about 71 inches of rain per year. This is in contrast to Lima, which receives very little rain per year. Most days in Lima are dreary and gray with fog, even though it sits by the ocean. Machu Picchu has the perfect climate for corn and potatoes, the main crops for the Incas, plus a little more sun.
The Inca citadel was only used for about 80 years and sat empty for centuries without being disturbed. The inhabitants were thought to succumb to Western diseases like smallpox. When the Spanish conquistadors conquered Peru in 1532, they inhabited Cusco, the ancient Inca city approximately 50 miles from the royal estate, but never found the treasure-laden site. It was covered with growth and not easily detected.
Inca Artifact
Hiram Bingham III ( historian and explorer), with the help of some locals, re-discovered the city in 1911 and found the artifacts mostly intact. He spirited away the treasures to Yale University for scientific study. Today, the treasures can be found both in the Peabody Museum at Yale and in the International Center for the Study of Machu Picchu and Inca Culture in Cusco.
Great Travel Guides Make The Trip
Our intrepid travelers chose Overseas Adventure Travel, a branch of Grand Circle Travel that set up an interesting itinerary for them. Thrilled with their travel guide, Wilber Obitas displayed a deep knowledge of everything Peru. Thoughtful and innovative, he would even stop in the countryside, out-of-the-way places not listed on the itinerary to help his group get a feel for local life.
Betsy, Connie and Beth talked about their experiences with the locals. Most people were very poor, but they were exceptionally friendly. Everyone had a great time and lots of fun interacting with the residents. As with us, the Peruvians are all about the family unit. Lacking healthcare, the elders live with and are cared for by their children.
Our travelers even met a 90-year-old gentleman who continues to work for a living. The country not only lacks healthcare but also lacks a retirement program, so most people work until they die. They’re fine with that. That’s what they know.
From Rafting To a Textile-Weaving Demonstration
Everyone loved the itinerary. Our travelers not only got to meet with locals and experience life on the farms, they toured the ancient Inca capital city of Cusco (11,000 ft above sea level), rafted down the
Peruvian Weaver
Urubamba River in the Sacred Valley, experienced a healing ceremony and a textiles weaving demonstration, were entertained by school children who sang in the ancient Inca language, and much more. Experiences were varied and interesting.
Modern and Comfortable Amenities
For those of you thinking about traveling to Peru, transportation was modern and comfortable. The rooms were “beautiful” wherever they went. All felt the cost of the trip at $3,500. per person was worth the money. They all agreed the trip to Machu Picchu alone was worth the price.
Amazon Adventure
For those of you yearning to understand jungle culture, the Amazon is close by. Beth broke off from the group and met up with her guide to the tropical destination where she slept in open-air huts while listening to jungle sounds. The monkeys get a little animated at night, as you might expect.
Amazon Jungle
She fished for pirańa and ate them for dinner. She even allowed someone to cut her hair with pirańa teeth. You won’t experience that stateside. Blowgun lessons kept her busy. (I would be very wary, Harry.) Although she swears she can’t hit the broadside of a barn. And, being a nurse by trade, she hobnobbed with local medicine men. I don’t think you can get more rustic than that. It must have been an incredible experience.
Cater To Americans 50 and Older
Our travelers highly recommend a trip to Peru. The country, the history, the people, the stunning scenery, the food all combined to make for an unforgettable journey. Overseas Adventure Travel is known for “Learning and Discovery” trips with a higher level of physical activity for healthy and fit adults (they cater to Americans aged 50 or older).
Break away from the touristy trips and immerse yourself in the culture of this beautiful country. You studied Peru in school, now make history come alive!
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