Pisac and the Sacred Valley

On Sunday morning (September 13th), we left Cusco on the local transportation to head over the hill to the city of Pisac. Our luggage was slung onto the roof of the van, tied on with ropes and off we went, three gringos and the rest of the locals. Forty minutes later, we arrived in Pisac and managed to find our way to the Main Plaza where our hotel was located. After dropping our stuff off, we explored the Pisac open air market. Rows and rows of colorful bags, earrings, flutes, headbands made for very cheap shopping.

The very colorful market of Pisac

In the afternoon, we went the Pisac ruins located about 20 minutes away from Pisac by taxi. Our tour guide told us that in the hills is one of the largest burial sites in the worlds. With 10,000 grave, the Incas used to bury their dead in the fetal position simbolizing rebirth after death. When the Spanish arrived to conquer the Incan Empire in the 1500's, they ransacked all the graves to collect the gold. The guide also told us that there are several villages located above the ruins and that some children have to walk two hours each way to get to the school in Pisac.

 Pictures from the ruins at Pisac

Peruvian women selling fruit at the market.

Extensive terrace system

View of the Sacred Valley

After our tour of the Pisac ruins, we ate dinner at a restaurant called the Blue Llama. A huge bowl of pumpkin soup, a main entrée, a drink or bebida, and a postre or dessert only cost approximately 6 US dollars for each one of us and the food was delicious. The next morning before we left Pisac, we went there for breakfast and for $3 US dollars, I had all you can eat pancakes. If you ever go to Peru, you need to make a stop in Pisac just to eat at this restaurant because everything was so good.

Words of the day: sabor=flavor, pancacas=pancakes