The Sacred Valley

The Sacred Valley is an incredible place.  Simply Beautiful.

Just look at those fingers.

Sophia loved this little llama.  My mom has a better photo somewhere.

This llama farm was one of our favorite stops.

The kids learned firsthand how wool is dyed.

This was our guide at the farm.  He kept the kids stocked with greens.

Sacred Valley

Market Center in Pisac

This is Ollantaytambo - the last stop for vehicles.  You have to take the train the rest of the way to Machu Picchu.  We spent a night here after train service was cancelled due to high rain waters.  This entire town was constructed by Incans and was an Incan stronhold during the Spanish Conquest. 

These women are using the running water to wash their clothes.

Ruins built into the side of the mountain.

New construction built on old.

This is inside the traditional home from the photo above. There were guinea pigs being raised for this month's dinner and strange skulls nestled in wall niches.  I felt bad for taking photos, so I bought a small wool cardigan for Sophia.

If Abe had his way, he would have wandered through the maze of streets for hours looking for secret hideouts.

I spent the day chewing on coca leaves and cloves hoping that the pain of the abscess would subside.  I searched high and low looking for a decent pain killer.  As it turns out, anything with addictive qualities is illegal here in Peru because they cannot properly regulate the pharmacies.