Saturday, 6 September 2014
Today was another travelling day. From Cusco I traveled to Ollantaytambo on a bus. Yesterday I had a double seat all to myself and didn't really have the opportunity of talking to anyone, so I thought it would be better if I brought my IPad along today so that I can insert the information given by the guide as we went along. However, today it was free seating, and by the time I boarded the bus I was right at the back, next to a window and then came these 4 girls who were loud and talkative, and 2 of them sat beside me and talked non-stop! Sweet mother of lord.
There went my peace and quiet with my iPad. They seemed friendly enough, I think the problem was that they were still young and immature. When they boarded the bus, they proceeded to complain about their tour guide (not that I asked them anything at all) who asked them to get into a van with 4 Peruvian guys, as the van would take them to the bus station. They refused to do so because, in their words, they were blond and blue eyed and no way were they getting into a van full of Peruvian guys. And this, they told loudly in a bus half full of Peruvians. I wanted to just disappear, this was really unnecessary. I don't think it's right to go to a country and complain about their people. First of all, being blond and blue eyed alone doesn't make one a 'target', I think all tourists, regardless of how they look, are 'targets' in any country. Secondly, I don't think Peruvians are that bad! In fact, I think they are nice, friendly people.
The arrogance of youth combined with the arrogance of being white, blond haired and blue eyed! They genuinely believe that in a place like Peru, they are a novelty and therefore wanted creatures. I wish I could be a little bit more like them. I am, in fact, exactly the opposite. I genuinely believe that no man will ever find me attractive, so that I jolly well better have a pleasant personality to attract a man. Even when I am in relationships, I do not think they are attracted to me physically, but for other reasons such as intellect, sense of humor etc. But I digress!
On the way to Ollantaytambo we passed the Sacred Valley of the Incas. This is a valley of the Urubamba River, between Pisac and Ollantaytambo. In Pisac we stopped at a market selling all sorts of local handicrafts. However, we were only given 20 minutes so there really wasn't much time to look around, let alone shop for stuff.
After this we stopped at an Incan ruin in Pisac, which was on top of a hill at the entrance to the valley. There are agricultural terraces on the steep hillside, which are still in use today. The terraces were created by hauling richer topsoil by hand from the lower lands. We had to climb again, and I was out of breath as usual due to the elevation, about 3,600 m above sea level. On the opposing cliff wall, there were many holes; these were all that were left of what was Inca's largest cemetery. The ruin was probably a temple used to track the sun, moon and stars, which were very important to the Incas. Here it started to rain again, and as I left my bag on the bus along with my wind breaker and cap, I was soaking wet when I got back. I hope I don't fall sick anytime soon.
Then we stopped at Urubamba for lunch. This is a beautiful small village in the centre of the Sacred Valley.
Today was another travelling day. From Cusco I traveled to Ollantaytambo on a bus. Yesterday I had a double seat all to myself and didn't really have the opportunity of talking to anyone, so I thought it would be better if I brought my IPad along today so that I can insert the information given by the guide as we went along. However, today it was free seating, and by the time I boarded the bus I was right at the back, next to a window and then came these 4 girls who were loud and talkative, and 2 of them sat beside me and talked non-stop! Sweet mother of lord.
There went my peace and quiet with my iPad. They seemed friendly enough, I think the problem was that they were still young and immature. When they boarded the bus, they proceeded to complain about their tour guide (not that I asked them anything at all) who asked them to get into a van with 4 Peruvian guys, as the van would take them to the bus station. They refused to do so because, in their words, they were blond and blue eyed and no way were they getting into a van full of Peruvian guys. And this, they told loudly in a bus half full of Peruvians. I wanted to just disappear, this was really unnecessary. I don't think it's right to go to a country and complain about their people. First of all, being blond and blue eyed alone doesn't make one a 'target', I think all tourists, regardless of how they look, are 'targets' in any country. Secondly, I don't think Peruvians are that bad! In fact, I think they are nice, friendly people.
The arrogance of youth combined with the arrogance of being white, blond haired and blue eyed! They genuinely believe that in a place like Peru, they are a novelty and therefore wanted creatures. I wish I could be a little bit more like them. I am, in fact, exactly the opposite. I genuinely believe that no man will ever find me attractive, so that I jolly well better have a pleasant personality to attract a man. Even when I am in relationships, I do not think they are attracted to me physically, but for other reasons such as intellect, sense of humor etc. But I digress!
On the way to Ollantaytambo we passed the Sacred Valley of the Incas. This is a valley of the Urubamba River, between Pisac and Ollantaytambo. In Pisac we stopped at a market selling all sorts of local handicrafts. However, we were only given 20 minutes so there really wasn't much time to look around, let alone shop for stuff.
After this we stopped at an Incan ruin in Pisac, which was on top of a hill at the entrance to the valley. There are agricultural terraces on the steep hillside, which are still in use today. The terraces were created by hauling richer topsoil by hand from the lower lands. We had to climb again, and I was out of breath as usual due to the elevation, about 3,600 m above sea level. On the opposing cliff wall, there were many holes; these were all that were left of what was Inca's largest cemetery. The ruin was probably a temple used to track the sun, moon and stars, which were very important to the Incas. Here it started to rain again, and as I left my bag on the bus along with my wind breaker and cap, I was soaking wet when I got back. I hope I don't fall sick anytime soon.
Then we stopped at Urubamba for lunch. This is a beautiful small village in the centre of the Sacred Valley.
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