Machu Picchu!

¡Hola Estudiantes! ¿Cómo están todos? Es probable que todos de ustedes han aprendido, por lo menos un poco, sobre los Incas, su civilización, y el sitio de Machu Picchu.

Primero, miren ustedes a estas fotos…

Y ¿Qué piensan?

View of Machu Picchu from the top of Wayna Picchu Mountain

View of Machu Picchu and Wayna Picchu Mountain

Machu Picchu, the famous ancient Incan civilization that is today one of the 7 Wonders of the World, has got to be the most amazing place I have ever been.  I can't fully express how fascinating it really is but I will try to pass along some of the interesting things I learned about it while I was there. 

*First of all, due to the very high altitude of the city of Cusco and Machu Picchu, upon arrival you are advised to drink coca tea to help with altitude sickness.  You can also buy coca leaves to chew on or coca candy (the best option in my opinion). 
*Second, how incredible is it to think that after hundreds of years Machu Picchu is still there!  And, the only reason, presumably, that it is still there is because it was never discovered by the Spanish.  The entire time that Pizarro, the Spanish explorer, and his conquistadors were invading Peru and South America, Machu Picchu remained hidden within the Andes mountains.  So while the Incas disappeared during this era, their civilization remained.  The way in which the Incas built Machu Picchu, the architecture of the city, helped to keep it hidden from anyone that could have been passing by.  From below, it is perfectly hidden, only from atop the tallest surrounding mountains was it visible.  Also evident throughout Incan ruins and architecture, are the three animals that were considered sacred for the Inca people.  They were the condor, the snake, and the puma.  What is even more incredible is that there are still other Incan cities similar to and bigger than Machu Picchu that have yet to be excavated and studied because it is so hard to travel to them (for example, it may take 2-3 days worth of hiking to arrive).  One of which was only discovered in 2004!  Speaking of discovery, 2011 marks the 100th anniversary of the rediscovery of Machu Picchu.  It was rediscovered (after being a forgotten/lost civilization) in 1911 by the American Explorer, Hiram Bingham.
*Aside from Machu Picchu, I also had the opportunity to visit Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, Cusco's Cathedral, and the ruins of Sacsayhuaman, watch Cusco's weekly parade that included a lot of native dance and music, and go to the house of native and learn how the alpaca textiles are woven and died to make clothes, blankets, and other things.  The textile industry is a very important aspect of the Peru's economy and many people in Cusco and the surrounding areas still dress in traditional clothing made from alpaca wool and dyed different colors using different plants, seeds, and food.

¿Qué piensan de las fotos y la información?  ¿Les interesa a ustedes, sobre cual temas quieren saber más?  Hay tanta información disponible para aprender sobre los Incas, Cusco, y Machu Picchu.