Site seeing in the Sacred Valley and the strike

We started our journey visiting some sites in the Sacred Valley. We had to take what we can visit as there was a local strike going on. We stopped by Chinchero to check out the architecture and history there ... we visited the women who make alpaca products ... it was interesting to see and I was so glad to find mitts that fit me well there! I was getting worried that me hands would be frozen from the cold! We also headed to Moray to check out the cool terraces they used to test plant agriculture in the past ... the core is the lowest and is about 5 degrees warmer ... we climbed the interesting diagnal steps built to go up and down the rings and levels and Jorge suggested that we all hold hands and llook up at the sky and just absorb the energy in and around us. It was quite fun. As the journey continues we are starting to get a feel and know each other more....esp. when we confronted with the challenge of the strike. 

The strike was, if I can recall, the citizens disagreement about the gov't charging them for the water they consume ... which is understandable. So the citizens created blockades around the city Urabamba to the point where it stopped all traffic coming in and out of the area ... and Jorge mentioned that there is only one way in and out ... there were bolders pushed everywhere scattering across the entire road. We watched some of the action happening after our lunch (the only restaurant opened apparently). We saw the citizens attacking the tut-tuts ...very mildly...perhaps more shouting and banging and shaking of them but still.... would be scary for those involved there. It was interesting seeing this ... makes us think how lucky we are in the western world to have demonstrate peacfully but can in some ways make a difference in the decisions made while the people here have to take drastic measures into their own hands to get their own gov't's attention. Good for them to take the stand!

After lunch Jorge gave us a decision to make as a group - since our van (with our duffle bags) cannot continue to Ollantaytambo (where we start the trail hike) we can either get what we need from our duffles and walk 2 hours to get there OR stay at a hotel here in town but there is a possibility that the strike will last another day and delay us. It was pretty much unanimous.... It was going to be the 2 hour walk! It was a good time to test out our polls and legs! I got our group behind when we were getting stuff from our duffles as I did something dumb ... I took what I need out and put something else I didn't need from my day pack only to put the stuff I need back in! I didn't realize this until I had this gut feeling to double check I had it in my bag! This is when I got to know Margaret as she was the one calming me down as I try to hastly go back to get the stuff from my duffle that was already packed up back in the van.

So we all got to walking and talking with different groups and individuals as our speed (some of us) changed. It was nice to see the locals and saying Hola to them as we walked on by. I think they were laughing at us using our polls to walk. I tried to get to know everyone as this was a good time to do so. So interesting and fasinating ... the people you meet as you travel... but all with hearts of gold! While walking, we came across many different blockades made by the locals. There was one with barb wire, ones with rocks and bolders (with and without tar for torching later on), garbage ... we even saw one with bits and pieces of cactuses laid out!

After a while, as it got dark, it became challenging. I think we just wanted to all rest as we did not stop walking in those 2 hours. I know that when Jorge said ... only 20 minutes more left I thought it was to see a band (and get there) but he meant "van" :P While we were all walking, Jorge was busy on his cell calling up people to figure out a way to get our duffles to the us and the porters tomorrow, to get us a place to stay etc. He has done an awesome job throughout the whole trip and such a knowledgable guy! 

On with the story! So after about more than 20 minutes ... we finally saw a van ... we all stuffed our bags at the back and stuffed ourselves in the van like sardines... 14 people in the van plus the driver! And get this ... Jorge and the some dude riding on the roof just holding on to the racks! Some of the guys were commenting how they would pay to surf the roof so the say :) but Jorge knew that he couldn't let any of us go up there as he was responsible for our safety on this trip.

So bushed and tired, we were off to Ollantaytambo which would have taken us about another 1-2 hours if we walked all the way  there. It was already dark and it would have been so very tiring to do another 2 hours only to wake up early next day to start the Inca Trail and continue that for the next 3.5 days!

The hostel we were at was pretty cold. The 4 of us decided to put the beds together to sleep which I guess wasn't needed but we had a great time chatting and laughing about stuff. Unfortunately, Steve and Helen got the runs from the Pizza they shared at the Blue Puppy restaurant that we all ate at. I know we were all trying to avoid any stomach problems while trekking on the trail and this was not such a hot start. Eva and I were lucky though we were still battling our slight mild stomach troubles since Pisco.

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