El Calafate

The cute little town of El Calafate is home to one of the most stunning sights in South America, the glacier Perito Moreno. It is one of the largest existing glaciers in the world. Perito Moreno is still growing today, but is losing mass at the same time. The short 30 minute drive from the city to the entrance of the National Park affords many breathtaking views of the lake, mountains and estancias (ranches). Once in the park you wind around the roads leading you towards the glacier. Occasionally you catch a glimpse of the breathtaking mass of ice nestled between two snowcapped mountains. Keeping in mind that the rest of the terrain is devoid of ice and snow, the experience is truly unique.

Sacsayhuaman

Sacsayhuamán is an Inca walled complex near the old city of Cusco, at an altitude of 3,701 m. Most tourist know it under the name “Sexy Woman”, as almost all tourist guides call it this way when they provide information about this stunning and impressive Inca Ruin, at a stone throw from the city center of Cusco. I used to walk up there at least once a week, while I was studying Spanish at AMAUTA, it takes about 10 – 15 minutes.

Like much Inca stonework, there is still mystery surrounding how they were constructed. The structure is built in such a way that a single piece of paper will not fit between many of the stones. This precision, combined with the rounded corners of the limestone blocks, the variety of their interlocking shapes, and the way the walls lean inward, is thought to have helped the ruins survive devastating earthquakes in Cuzco. The longest of three walls is about 400 meters. They are about 6 meters tall. Estimated volume of stone is over 6,000 cubic meters. Estimates for the largest limestone block vary from 128 tonnes to almost 200 tonnes. Some believe the walls were a form of fortification, while others believe it was only used to form the head of the Puma that Sacsayhuamán along with Cuzco form when seen from above. Sacsayhuamán is also noted for an extensive system of underground passages known as chicanas connect the fortress to other Inca ruins within Cuzco. Today, the annual Inca festival celebrating the winter solstice and new year, Inti Raymi, is held near Sacsayhuamán on June 24.

The Floating Islands

If you have traveled to Puno and Lake Titicaca, then no doubt you have taken a trip out to visit the floating islands. If you have yet to go, then you must! These floating islands, located out in the middle of Lake Titicaca are the home to the Uros tribe. The Uros tribe existed back before the pre-Incan civilization. Legend states that these people existed before the sun, when the earth was still dark and cold and without light. They were untouchable. Upon mixing with humans, they lost their status as super beings. Mixing with humans opened them up to the world of contempt and their disobedience to the universal order. They scattered, losing their identity, language, and customs and eventually became the Uro-Aymaras, who now speak Aymara.

The Incas thought this tribe was worth very little and taxed them accordingly. Yet the Uros, with their basic reed homes actually outlasted the mighty Incas with their huge stone temples and mountaintop enclaves. Everything on these islands is made from a certain type of reed. The totora is a type of cattail that grows native in the lake. The thick roots are able to hold up the top layer, which rots over time and must be replaced regularly by the stacking of more reeds on top. These reeds are used to create the homes as seen in this photo, a boat to use for transportation, for food, and for warmth.

Photo from last week

The Harp is a fundamental instrument of Peruvian Musical Heritage. Invented in Europe, the harp was brought by the conquerors and adapted by the Native people to their expressive needs and own artistic taste. The Peruvian harp size is unique, smaller than the classic one, larger than the Paraguayan and bigger than the Celtic one. There are different types of Peruvian harp, the Huancaina (from Huancayo) which is larger, the Lucanas form Ayacucho characterized by a more rounded shape and the one form Cusco which is the biggest one. The musicians of Cusco can use for their harp nylon or metal string even if the fish string became the most common between them in terms of saving; they use a different technique to play their harp using just three fingers instead of four normally used for the other Peruvian harps. In Cusco, you can also find the “Domingacha? harp which is smaller and characterized by a rounded shape. All the Peruvian Harps, besides their peculiar differences, have something in common determined by their big Soundbox which enriched them with a more clear and strong sound.