Goldens on the Road: A Peruvian school & Sacsayhuaman Ruins

A Peruvian school & Sacsayhuaman Ruins

Our visit to a Peruvian school was a very pleasant experience. The school receives some support through Gate 1 Tours, the tour company we went to Peru with. As you can imagine it is difficult for Peru to provide the schools supplies needed for the education of all the children, but they consider it one of their top priorities. All children go to school. The number of hours they are able to spend in school varies. Children on a farm, for example, go to school for half a day then must go home to help on the farm.

All the children were very excited to see us. They welcomed us with a song, and then escorted us into their class room where they shared art work, math, reading or any number of other skills they are learning.

Two girls each read to me. They were so cute, they were all smiles and so excited and it was easy to see how proud they were to be able to share their work with me. They did an excellent job!

Part of what the children learn is skills required to survive; to raise money. The school is teaching the children how to do Pottery. They go through every step of creating various pieces both useful and decorative. This student was wearing the apron they wear when working with the pottery.

Some of their work was available for us to see and purchase if we would like to. Among these items was a lovely small vase that caught my eye. We asked if the student who made the vase was in school that day and if we could meet her. Her name was Lisbeth and she was thrilled to have us buy her vase. I even managed to get it home in one piece!!

Then as I was leaving this pair of tiny shoes caught my eye. These lonely little shoes just sitting on the sidewalk spoke to me and I wondered where the little person was that belonged to them.

After the school visit we went on to visit another Aztec ruin called Saqsaywaman (Sacsayhauman). Believe it or not the pronunciation in Peru is "sexy woman!" We all had a good laugh at that one, especially our guide.

Saqsaywaman (Sacsayhauman) is a citadel on the northern outskirts of the city of Cusco, Peru, the historic capital of the Inca Empire. Sections were first built by the Killke culture about 1100; they had occupied the area since 900. The complex was expanded and added to by the Inca from the 13th century; they built dry stone walls constructed of huge stones. The workers carefully cut the boulders to fit them together tightly without mortar. The site is at an altitude of 3,701 m (12,142 ft.). Archaeologists are currently working on further excavation of the fortress(Wikipedia)

This is showing a rock wedged under a much larger rock. The bottom rock is more important though because it is a leveler so the rocks a top it can all balance. The same with the photo below.

This is the largest rock excavated so far, it is estimated at 28 tons! Again we wonder ... how did the Incas move such a large rock?

And how did they cut such a large rock at such an exact angle as shown above?

Continuing excavation

At the very top was this foundation that, according to

historians, was the base for three 40 to 50 foot buildings.

Awesome!

You may have noticed 4 photos up, a statue of Jesus on the left of the photo. Perched high above Cusco and right next to the ruins shown above is the large statue of Jesus Christ that can be seen across the city. The 26 ft. high structure was a gift from the Arabic Palestinians who sought refuge in Cusco after WW II. The statue depicts Christ extending his arms outwards, very similar to Rio's Christ the Redeemer, but smaller.