Morey Maras & Salineras

July 4:

Today we got up and ready early for our tour of the Morey Maras  (Inca amphitheater/agricultural lab) and the Salineras Salt Flats.  There was a brief mix up about our pick up to meet the bus, but once it was straightened out we were off.....down some very bumpy cobblestone roads toward Poroy and into the countryside.  The weather here has been beautiful....bright blue skies and brilliant sunshine....most days are hot until around 3pm when the temps dip tremendously and we all are running for wool sweaters.  Never thought I would be sporting an alpaca sweater in mid July.....just thinking about the weather back home!

This is an incredibly scenic ride with beautiful mountains and farmlands all around us.  The air is so pure here and it is such a lovely day.  In the distance, we can see the snow capped Andes mountains...breathtaking!

Along the way, we stop at a traditional Inca village where we are shown a demonstration on how the women harvest the alpaca wool, clean it and dye it with the natural dyes.  We are also told about the different costumes they wear and the significance of the head-dress and the way they wear their hair.  Afteward, we are (of course) shown all of the beautiful products that we can purchase.  Never to miss a shopping opportunity, Annie and I make purchases and are back on the bus.  Only problem.....we have spent all but the basic money we need for entrance fees and to pay the balance of the tour.....Uh oh :-(  Before we leave, Hudson finds the cutest Cocker Spaniel puppy and the kids take turn cuddling with it....they want to bring it along with us!

Back underway (minus puppy), we arrive at the Morey Mara site and get some of the background info on why the Inca's built this site.  As it turns out, the best engineers were "recruited" (aka taken by force) by the ruling Inca leaders and brought to this site to create an agricultural lab.  There are concentric rings of terraces that descend into the pit that was created by a meteorite.  This site is thought to have possitive magnetic energy in the center of the crater.  It looks much like an amphitheater, but each terrace has its own unique climactic zone.  This allowed them to plant a variety of crops that require very different climates in one locations....engeneous!  The walk down is a bit precarious.  You have to balance on these floating stairs in order to get to the bottom....great leg workout.  Since we are at such a high elevation here, the slightest activity can leave you winded and this "hike" is no exception.  When our tour group arrives at the center, we all hold hands and do a little chant to the sun god, regulating our breathing.....this is all very granola and mystical.  But we go with it.  We reclimb out of the inner bowl and back to the bus for the next stop when we discover that Annie, Sam and Hudson have snuck off with an American Flag that was brought along on the trip for this very moment....they photographed themselves in a remote part of the site with the flag to celebrate July 4th!!! 

 We get back in the bus and off to the Salineras Salt Flats...which are also very interesting.  The natural salty mineral water rises out of the earth at a spring and is harvested in these pools.  Once the water evaporates, the salt is left behind.  As it is getting a bit late in the day and the World Cup game between Brazil and Columbia that we want to watch.  As we are let off at the main square in Cusco, the kids are now able to find our hotel on their own so we let them head back.  Paulie and I do a little shopping and meet up with them.