I returned from a 10 day trip to Peru to find the work in my office piled to the rafters. Ugh! Whatever iota of relaxation I felt during those ten days left rather quickly. But what won’t ever leave are the fabulous memories of Peru, Machu Picchu and the wonderful Peruvian people.
We flew into Lima, the capital of Peru and spent a couple of days wandering around this very interesting city. It is on the ocean and has a beautiful coast and a fascinating historical center with wonderful colonial architecture. We then flew to Cusco, high up in the Andes mountains. At 11,200 feet you have to take it slowly the first day. For those of you who may live in the mountains, this may not seem like a big deal, but for us sea level dwellers, we experienced shortness of breath and headache. A few cups of coca tea (yes, THAT coca) put us right.
The second day in Cusco we climbed to Sacsaywaman, also known as Sacsayhuaman which almost killed me. Damn, those Incas loved steps. A fascinating tour with Mario, a local shaman had us up there for over four hours. It was exhausting but well worth the trip.
I won’t bore you with ALL the details of our trip, but will show you some pictures of the main attraction...Machu Picchu. This ancient Incan site was magical and amazing and fabulous. Here are just a few of the 1400 + pictures we took:
And look at this….the tiredest pre-colombian Peruvian that ever lived:
Oh, the platters on the very top are a couple I painted for some very special people. Cousin Tommy and Chrissy for their 25th wedding anniversary and the other for a couple that just got married. Since I haven’t given it to them yet, I don’t want to spoil the surprise.
No matter how much fun vacations are, it’s always good to be home, with friends and family and in this case, back at sea level.
46 comments
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October 3, 2010 at 7:33 pm
Rhonda
Beautiful plates! And great photos from your trip – more, please!!
October 3, 2010 at 11:06 pm
Carol King
Thanks for your comments on the plates. Be careful what you wish for with the photos….I have another 1,423…..!
October 3, 2010 at 7:57 pm
Francis
Thanks for sharing your photo and your trip Carol. Wow, it must have been breath taking when you are on top of the mountains. I did seen some of the Peru ancient buildings picture when my friend went there last year, they are just awsome. Just one question, is the Peru man sowing the seeds real? He sure looks real to me.
October 3, 2010 at 11:07 pm
Carol King
It was breath taking to be up in those mountains. The photos do not do it justice.
The pre-Colombian Peru man is not real. He was part of an exhibit at an ancient pyramid in Lima.
October 3, 2010 at 8:19 pm
lesliepaints
Gorgeous pictures, Carol! How long did it take to get to the top? I’d have to rest a LOT!!! Your plates are beautiful! Gifts for a lifetime and something that can not be duplicated. Love it!
October 3, 2010 at 11:09 pm
Carol King
Some people hiked what is called the Incan trail and that is a four day hike. I opted for the train and then a 25 minute scary bus ride up the mountain.
Glad you liked the platters. I like making gifts for people if I think they will enjoy and use it.
October 3, 2010 at 9:47 pm
Bonnie Luria
I’m thinking the recipients of those platters will be as thrilled to have them as Kelly and I are to have the one you made for us.
Love the colors and the liveliness of the patterns.
Those steps surely could only exist before the days of cabs. Photos can’t even capture the magnitude of steepness and never ending-ness that those steps are.
Gasp Gasp, and then howl, when I saw the bent over tiredest pre-Colombian person!
As my mother always says, ” It’s good to go, it’s good to come back “.
TAXIIIIIII……!
October 3, 2010 at 11:12 pm
Carol King
Bonnalaaaaaaaaaaa! It seems to me like you might need another piece of china for your collection! 🙂
You have no idea how many times I said to Matt “if those Incas were so damn smart, how come they didn’t invent escalators”!
I couldn’t believe it when I saw the tiredest pre-Colombian Peruvian. It was like seeing myself in whatever the reverse of reincarnation is.
October 3, 2010 at 11:09 pm
Alex Zonis
I love the platters!!! Come to think of it, we have just celebrated our wedding anniversary last week. Do you think… ah, never mind! 🙂
Wonderful photos of your trip! Sounds like you had some fun there! I am a little concerned about the man wearing an apron. What would he do in high winds? Not a good attire for Chicago weather with our notorious Nor-Easter :D.
October 3, 2010 at 11:15 pm
Carol King
Alex, you never know when a painted piece of pottery may arrive in the post.
We had a great time and have many, many more photos! The tiredest pre-Colombian Peruvian was in Lima which was not high in the Andes. I don’t recall it being that windy. Of course, if he ever visits Chicago, I would suggest other attire.
October 4, 2010 at 12:08 am
Alice
Your painted plates are gorgeous, of course!
October 4, 2010 at 9:06 am
Carol King
Muchas gracias!
October 4, 2010 at 12:47 am
napabelle
Oh, these are lovely plates… so happy and cheerful! One cannot but smile…
October 4, 2010 at 9:06 am
Carol King
Thanks Isabelle!
October 4, 2010 at 2:00 am
Stephen
What a cool gift.
Thanks for all the photos – I love all those rock walls. It must have been very beautiful living there, though I guess from the terraced gardens, quite extreme. Your photos are quite different from others I have seen of the same place.
Well I think it is good to have you back too.
I hope you are on top of your work now.
October 4, 2010 at 9:07 am
Carol King
I hope they like the gifts.
The rock walls were amazing. In a different site the rocks were constructed so well one couldn’t slip a thin blade between them.
On top of my work now? I think it’s on top of me. ugh!
October 4, 2010 at 4:18 am
Keith Palmer
Great post Carol. Loved the pictures and the narrative. One day I might be able to follow in your footsteps!
October 4, 2010 at 9:08 am
Carol King
As I followed in the Inca footsteps? Many, many, many steps! I’m sure you’ll get there one day.
October 4, 2010 at 7:59 am
Bonnie Luria
PS- Didn’t those Incas develop the first 12 ( million ) Step Program?
October 4, 2010 at 9:08 am
Carol King
Oh Bon Bon! You are so clever and funny! : )
October 4, 2010 at 9:50 am
Cathyann Burgess
Climb every mountain…..these guys must have been related to the Cliff dwelling ancient pueblo people. My photos resemble yours…only mine had wooden ladders which were scary enough….
the photos never do justice to the place do they?
Nice plates. Glad you are breathing easier again. LOL…
Sounds like you had a good respite from the jungles of Manhattan.
October 7, 2010 at 10:56 am
Carol King
No, the photos never do these sites justice. Even if I were able to take a panoramic picture it would not get the majesty of Machu Picchu.
We did have a good respite from the Jungles of Manhattan. But I’m back and swinging from tree to tree just trying to get things done!
October 4, 2010 at 11:54 am
Beth Parker
A four day hike? People really do that?? Oh my gosh! I’d be on the train and the scary bus, too. Love the photos and the platters are to die for!! I know they will be cherished by the lucky recipients.
October 7, 2010 at 10:59 am
Carol King
Yes, people really do a four day hike on the Inca Trail into Machu Piccu. I MAYBE would have tried to hike, but it also involved camping and that’s where I draw the line. People also hike up the mountain next to M.P. to see it from afar. I will wait for the National Geographic pictures.
I hope the recipients feel like they are lucky! Thanks, Beth.
October 4, 2010 at 3:05 pm
jimmyboi2
VERY nice platters… remember the ivy bowl you made for me years ago? I still use it !
Great pictures of Peru– did they talk about the Nazca lines ? Any thoughts ?
October 7, 2010 at 11:00 am
Carol King
I love the ivy bowl. So glad you are still using it. Didn’t we use it to make the ricotta that day?
I wanted to see the Nazca lines, but couldn’t do it on this trip. Pre-colombians or ancient aliens? Who knows.
October 4, 2010 at 10:04 pm
Richard McNaughton
Hope you can do some paintings from you photos.
October 7, 2010 at 11:01 am
Carol King
I hope so too, Richard. I plan on doing some soon.
October 7, 2010 at 4:26 pm
AKLizzy
Fantastic photos!! Your description and photos make me want to go to Peru!! Very cool!!
And the platters are beautiful!!
Xxooxxoo
October 10, 2010 at 5:59 pm
Carol King
Alaska and Peru. Two very magical places.
October 7, 2010 at 6:59 pm
w1kkp
That tiredest Pre-Colombian person has very nice skin and you do make me laugh out loud. Oh, those plates! Nothing tired about them…bursting with life and energy.
October 10, 2010 at 6:00 pm
Carol King
Thanks Pat. I believe I am the reincarnation of that tired pre-Colombian person. Now I need a nap.
October 8, 2010 at 9:19 am
cathy
The platters are the best! Start a line of them,forget work!
I am sending your post to a friend who is retired and wanted to go to Peru. Looks wonderful.
October 10, 2010 at 6:00 pm
Carol King
Hi Cathy, thanks. If only I could quit my job and paint plates I would be a happy camper.
October 8, 2010 at 10:57 am
Joan T
The plates will make gorgeous gifts!! I love your photos, but my knees are aching just thinking about the climb. lol Great to see you back.
October 10, 2010 at 11:58 pm
Carol King
My lungs were hurting trying to catch my breath as I marched up all those Incan steps!
October 8, 2010 at 11:04 am
adamscorner
The plates are beautiful and so are the photos from your trip. You must have had a wonderful time and now wonderful memories.
October 10, 2010 at 11:59 pm
Carol King
We did have a wonderful time. I have always wanted to see Machu Picchu. I am so glad I had the chance!
October 9, 2010 at 3:43 am
CathyG
What an amazing place – I’ve seen some of my nephew’s 1400 photos of Peru and Machu Picchu, got to get there some day…
Beautiful platters for some lucky people!
October 11, 2010 at 12:00 am
Carol King
You should go if you can. I know it is a very far trip from South Africa though.
October 9, 2010 at 11:26 pm
Nancy
Hi I’m the (retired!) friend Cathy sent your post to. So you say you couldn’t fit a sharp blade between these stones? So how do you suppose that was done? What do YOU feel about ancient alien contact?
October 11, 2010 at 12:01 am
Carol King
Hi Nancy, I don’t know how those rocks were put together so perfectly. Careful craftsmanship?
I love watching the “ancient aliens” shows on the Discovery Channel. Is it true? The jury is still out for me on that, but I’m certainly open to theories.
Will you go to Peru? I think you must!
March 22, 2011 at 12:42 am
nancy
I’ll go to Peru some day. I’m sure I’ll eventually see all the sacred sites. Sorry it took 6 months to answer your question. (I’m sure you were losing sleep waiting for my reply. My best friend, Cathy Bockel, told me about your blog. Beautiful!
March 22, 2011 at 9:38 am
Carol King
No matter how long it took. Glad to see you back. I love going to those ancient sites and thinking about the people who could have done those magnificent works from the pyramids in Egypt and Mexico to Stonehenge and other henges around the world. It’s all fascinating to me.
thanks for stopping back in.
March 24, 2011 at 4:02 pm
Nancy
Other henges. .. hahaha that’s funny ~but I know what you mean. Sacred sites. I think we will find out that they were created by ancient alien intervention, as wacky as that sounds. When’s your birth date (year included) I’m looking for other people with North Node in Aquarius.
March 24, 2011 at 4:03 pm
Nancy
Wish Cathy Bockel, fellow artist, a happy birth day today!