Friday, August 10, 2012

The Group


We were a group of thirteen from Metro State University of Denver. Together we spent 12 days traveling Peru; from Lima to Paracas to Nazca to Arequipa to Puno to Cusco and back to Lima. The course was on the study of Andean Civilizations. As a group we ate together, roomed together, learned together, built relationships and shared memories. The group was a fantastic mix of individuals from all walks of life and I am so grateful to have shared this experience with all of them. This blog is dedicated to sharing some of my more personal experiences and reactions to the people we met and the places we visited, it is a memoir of sorts, sometimes visual and sometimes written. It starts at the end with Machu Pichu and ends at the beginning with memories of Paracas. Many thanks to Professor of Spanish, Roberto Forns Broggi and Student Diredtor, Susy Osorio for all the planning, guidance, and care along the way.  

Roberto, The Walking Encyclopedia


Susy, The Mother and Confidant


Group dinner in Nazca City


Room mates- Bridget and me



Me, Bridget, Rachel, and Steve boarding the planes at Nazca


Laterrel and me at the beach


Rachel being smilely


Me and Rachel


Ami, Rachel, and me posing in Cuscooooo!

 


Group photo at Raqchi


The group after hiking to Pachatata Temple on Isla Amantani.



Lima: remnants of visual culture














 










 









Machu Pichu: spaces and places

Now I could go on and on about details and research on the Inca and theories of Machu Pichu, and part of me feels like I should in an effort to better communicate its magnificence, but instead I'd like to share how the physical experience and mystery of this place impacted me...

At dawn we caught the first ride up from Aguas Calientes to the summit, as we got off the bus the sun was rising. From the entrance we walked up to the main overlook, the morning air was crisp and the short but steep hike up got my blood pumping. As my senses were awakened I had a brief moment to myself taking in the powerful view, overlooking the city, breathing...After we took a group picture we started in on a tour of the city and I began to feel overwhelmed and distracted by the rush of tourists. However, as we moved through the city I felt a powerful sense of connection to the past as I looked at the spaces around me imagining how the Inca moved through the city, feeling what it felt like to walk through the terraces, climb up and down the walk ways, peer through windows and door ways... While our tour guide was educating us on the places, the Temple of the Sun, the Temple of the Condor, the Royal Tomb... I was looking at the spaces in between, exploring the power of the physical surroundings, responding to the environment, imagining new perspectives...                             

                               Spaces 







































   








 



 

 






                                                                                                                                                         Places







Temple of the Condor



Winnu Pichu, The Puma 



Compass Stone aligned with the Southern Cross

Temple of the Sun



Royal Tomb