5/11/2013.  Finally the day came to start our hike on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.  In four days we would hike about 27 miles, ascending three passes at 12,000 to 14,000 feet.  The trail is a mix of incredible mountain scenery, lush cloud-forest, jungle and, of course, a ancient Inca paving stones, ruins and tunnels.

 
The trail starts at Piscaucho, along the Urubamba River and railway that will return us to Cusco
after the hike.

At the check in, permits are verified and porters weighed.  The Inca Trail is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  The numbers of hikers are limited to protect the trail and the environment.  Porters are only allowed to carry 50 lbs. and are weighed to make sure that tour companies don’t overload them.

 I had to keep reminding myself to enjoy the spectacular scenery.  Mt. Victoria.

About 90 minutes into the hike we came to the Patallaqua Ruins.  It has 100 or so buildings along with the unique terraces.

On the first day of the hike we shared the trail with locals.

 

5/10/2013.  On our final training day, we started at the Pisac ruins and hiked a few miles from 11,000 feet down to the town of Pisac
.  Along our route there were many ruins and ancient terraces.
 

At Pisac we enjoyed the local open air market which reminded me of the Portland Saturday Market with a combination of foods and handmade items.

The narrow streets were enchanting.  Some of the buildings are built on a foundation of old Incan buildings.

 

5/9/2013.  We started our second day of  hiking to acclimate at the Moray ruins located at 11,500 feet.  It is thought that this may have been an agricultural testing station in that the temperature between the top and bottom circle may vary as much as 27 degrees.

 

 

The Incas built steps into the walls.

 This is Mt. Victoria, 18,000,our companion through most of the trip.  Taken from Moray.

 Our second hike was at the Salt Pans (ponds) of Maras.  Since pre-Incan times, salt has been collected by diverting a highly salty stream into these evaporation ponds. 

 We started at the top of the area and hiked down to the town of Maras. 

5/8/2013.  This was our first day in the Sacred Valley and our first "training" hike.  First stop was the Inca ruin of Ollantaytambo.  It is at a modest 9,100 feet, but for this lowlander, climbing the stairs was humbling to say the least. 

From near the top of the ruins looking down to the ancient town of Ollanyaytambo.

 





"The bath of the princess", a fountain at the base of the ruins.

Today, our last training hike before the trail. 11,200 feet. Humbling. As we hiked, this young man fowler. Heinz us or above us, and the lovely sound of his flute followed us.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Near Moray


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Finally made to a spot with wireless. Unfortunately it takes a while to add post pictures. But I'll try a few.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Urubamba, Sacred Valley

Peru and the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

In one week, I'll be off to Peru for an eleven day adventure. Although we'll be seeing several ruins in the Sacred Valley in the Cusco region, the highlight will be a four day hike on the Inca Trail ending at Machu Picchu. One of my friends, who dislikes Facebook even more than I do, suggested that I use my blog to describe the adventure and post pictures. I have no idea if I can do that from my iPad and from Peru, especially considering how very challenged I am with technology. It took me two hours to change the layout of this blog, and even longer to figure out how to blog from the iPad. But I have my trusty iPad keyboard thanks to my great son and his wife, a pretty decent camera, and a little patience. We shall see.
Now for a test of whether I can figure out how to post a picture from the iPad.



So here's a picture of the tulip farm I took a few weeks ago.

Four New Pieces

It Takes a Village

 Finally got around to taking pictures of some of my new pieces.  Still obsessing about Africa and three of these are certainly so inspired.  it Takes A Village is composed of linens and cottons on a linen background.  Each square is assembled with fusing and hand sewing, and each is embellished with a bone bead.  The finished piece is 21.5 x 29". 

The Gathering is also linens and cottons.  Some of the squares were fused to strips.  Each strip was hand sewn and several of the strips are embellished with various beads.  The piece is 18.5 x 25".

Desert Jewels is composed of 28 1" hand beaded medallions sewn on linen. 

The inspiration for Down Canyon came from southwestern canyon formations.  It is also composed of linens and cottons and each square is embellished with tiny pieces of coral and agate.  it is 25" x 25".

Desert Jewels






               

      The Gathering

 



 





I finally got my March project photographed.  Have to confess, I haven't even started on April yet.  But I have been busy -- see below.  March was my dream for some sunshine.  The detail in this fabric reminded me of rock drawings of sun.   I have again placed a beaded "ancient" in the piece.  I have beaded some of the suns and painted others.  The canvas is painted green to match the fabric and printed gold suns on the canvas from suns I carved on Speedy-Carve blocks.  The paint is Jacquard Lumiere Copper and Gold.





African Inspired Art Quilts

These art quilts were inspired by Africa and african prints.  I have used commercially printed cotton, linen, and some silk.  The pieces are attached by fusing and hand sewing.  They are embellished with beads including glass, bone, shell, and coconut shell. 

I am still learning about formatting so they appear a bit disjointed.



Connections







Tribal Rhythm







In the Wind



Tribes