Gramma Barbie Goes Global

If you look closely at the picture of the mountain in the book on the left and the second picture above it, you will see the naturally occurring face in the rocks that the Incas took advantage of and put 3 large pillars on top of to indicate a crown.  The drawing in the book on the right side depicts a giant holding the storage buildings on his back.  It was really uncanny how the Incas used this natural feature to their advantage.

Images of the Ollantaytambo Inca site in the Sacred Valley.

When he heard money fall into his container he would start playing and singing.

These pictures are of the yard around the restaurant in Sacred Valley where we had lunch.  I met a small boy here who wanted to know about my shoes, where I bought them, and how much they cost.  I teased him and asked him to come home with me and get some.  He said ‘no’, but he and his mother came and got me off the bus as we were leaving to get my address so he could write to me.  I didn’t get his picture, but, he was around 8 years old and his name was Rodrigo.  I hope he writes…..

This gentleman handed me a piece of bread fresh from his oven…yummy!

I am told that these little guys are very tasty – I did not try them – the picture of a plate with one on it did not appeal!!!  I was told that I should ask for cuy prepared in a dish not as a whole item still, the idea of guinea pig on a plate still did not appeal.  These little guys are being fattened up to be eaten.

There are 3000 types of potatoes grown in Peru and this is a display of some of the 300 varieties grown in the Sacred Valley.

A mandarin orange and a banana I took with me as a snack on my Sacred Valley tour.

We were encouraged to interact with and feed the llamas and alpacas, but the vacunas were kept away from people as they have never been domesticated.  This research site is trying to find ways to increase the quality of products from these animals.  They are a good source of income for the Peruvians.

One of the main ingredients of many of the dyes used for the fibers used to make traditional Peruvian products come from mixing an insect that infests cactus with different minerals.  This was demonstrated at one of our stops during our Cusco city tour.  The young lady standing is spinning wool and the one sitting is showing us how they make the dyes.