The first ruins we visited in Peru were at a site called Saqsayhuaman. There are several spellings of this word. It’s Quechua and not easy to spell or pronounce. I read somewhere that when the Spanish arrived they couldn’t manage the Quechua language so they adapted it to spellings and pronunciations that made it more Spanish. I’ll refrain from commenting on their arrogance until a later date. As you can see from the title of this piece, if you apply the phonetic nature of Spanish to the name of this site, it does sound rather like Sexy Woman. It seems that everyone is in on the joke because even some of the indigenous people would call it that with a big grin.
I took the photo above from the highest point at Saqsayhuaman. It overlooks Cuzco. Notice the Plaza de Armas in the foreground.
This is Lourdes, our guide for the trek through the first of the ruins we would see. I’m fascinated by ruins. I’m much more enthralled by mother nature and her beautiful mountains here in Peru. But it’s the people that I really love. Lourdes is a well-trained and certified guide. She told us she had to study long and hard to qualify and I believe it. She’s also qualified for Machu Picchu but is not allowed to work there now because she is about six months pregnant. She never really explained the reasoning that went into that decision, but if I had to guess, I would think it might be about her safety. (Of course it could be the infamous Latin American machismo.) The paths and stairs and ledges can be treacherous at MP. I sensed that she didn’t like the decision but she seemed to accept it with grace.
Lourdes never seemed to tire or need a rest but she instinctively knew when we were ready for a brief pause. During one such pause we put her in the seat of royalty, took her picture and called her Reina (Queen) Lourdes. During one of our longer breaks she and I talked about the baby. She would soon have an ultrasound and would learn the gender of the child. I asked her if she would have the baby in a hospital. She told me that twenty years ago almost all babies were born at home. That is changing and she will deliver her little bundle in a hospital. This is her first and she glows as so many pregnant women do.
This natural rock formation was begging for a child to slide down it, so this little boy came along and his abuelita allowed him to satisfy our wondering and his desire to have a little fun. As we strolled on to the next marvel, Lourdes told us that archaeologists do, in fact, think that the ancients used it just as the little boy did. We wondered aloud if it were the original ride in the original amusement park.
Early in the tour of Sexy Woman we saw a large group of teenage boys jogging toward the open area where many celebrations take place. As some of you know, I taught high school. Even though I’ve been retired from teaching for some time, I still find it hard to resist those wonderful energetic youngsters; so I called out to them as they passed and asked where they were from. They told me, “Lima!” As you can see here they were going to pose for this photo. I learned that each school has a number. Obviously this is theirs.
Here’s another view of Cuzco. Saqsayhuaman was an enormous Inca military site built to guard Cuzco. I keep typing the word Cuzco with a z because that’s how I learned it years ago. Most modern literature shows it as Cusco to make the pronunciation more nearly like the Quechua version. Makes sense to me.
It was a marvelous day in a magnificent place and I’m glad we spent some time there. I’m most especially grateful to have spent time with Lourdes. Speaking of marvelous days, we’re having a glorious one here in North Carolina–mid-seventies with very low humidity. A rare occasion which I welcome with open arms.
Hey there World Traveller,
I love these pictures and your words!! Can’t wait to see the next place you share!
On another note I nominated you for an award (or two) and if you would like to accept it you can find your my nomination here: http://secretworldofs.wordpress.com/2012/05/27/oh-glorious-day-i-have-been-award-s-ed/
Tons of love!
xo – S.
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HI S, and thank you. I’ll get right to work on my next post.
Thank you for honoring me with an award. I’m going to check it out right now.
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Hey Sexy Woman! Am really loving your travelog commentary. Please keep ’em coming!
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Thanks, L.
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Wow… A welcome piece of daydream on a rainy Monday morning. Thanks 😉 x
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🙂 Glad to accommodate.
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Great Photos, Pat.
Thanks for sharing your wonderful Adventures w/ us. Xxx
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My pleasure, Kimmy. Thanks.
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Thanks for taking us along with you – am enjoying your trip!
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Thanks, Catherine. I’m enjoying the revisit.
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Glad the weather back home in North-Carolina agrees with you. ‘We wondered aloud if it were the original ride in the original amusement park’ Very funny! I guess you have to be quite young at heart to try out this kind of fun. I’m glad Lourdes, your guide, being pregnant, was able to take adequate rest. It’s good that she’s fit and healthy enough to still do this kind of work. Did she tell you when she’s planning to stop working?
Just published my second blog for today. It took a long time to upload all the pictures.It has been raining today and it is not very warm. This is winter for us in Australia.
Looking forward, dear Pat, to read more about Peru. You seem to know a bit about their language and history. That makes it so interesting for you to actually see the place.
After our day out yesterday and blogging for hours today I feel I need a bit of a rest now. There’s a 6 pm Mass on today, Sunday. I missed the Mass this morning. So I should go tonight. But I don’t feel like going out. I think I’ll stay home tonight!
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Hi again, Uta. I’m still struggling to catch up with all the blogs and so haven’t read your most recent one.
About Lourdes–one of our little group asked her when she would stop working and she seemed to find the question puzzling. She told us she would not stop working, I imagine she has extended family to care for her little one. Remember that Peru is a poor country and having a government job which requires the kind of training she has cannot be easy to come by. Nor would it be easy to let it go. It probably makes a huge difference in their quality of life. At least, that’s what I imagine to be the case.
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Thank you for allowing me to vicariously travel with you. Please keep em coming.
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I am so enjoying your pics and commentary. Hope we can travel together someday.
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Thanks, Tish. I would love that!
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Just looked at your comment to my blog, Pat. I was curious to find out whether you published some more about Peru. So I came over and found these lovely pictures. I still have to read all the text. But I wanted to be the first to comment because I’m sure what you have to tell about Peru is going to be very interesting.
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Thanks, Uta. I’ll try to live up to your expectations.
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