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week5—the Nature of things Posing for Posterity; —scend at Machu Picchu— experience blog #5 – This week, we went to Machu Picchu. Coincidentally, the day we went was the day of the Winter and Summer solstice. Winter solstice in Peru (southern hemisphere) and Summer solstice back home in Vancouver (northern hemisphere). Machu Picchu was one […] read full post >>

The last week in Peru has been somewhat of a whirlwind. We’ve seen Ollantaytambo, Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu, and returned to Pisac all in the matter of a few days and nights. We’ve taken 2 Don Abelino transports, our very own diesel-scented PeruRail car, a behemoth tourist bus careening around switchbacks at 7am, our own […] read full post >>

Yesterday I was lucky enough to attend a guided tour through parts of Ollantaytambo with a local resident, and our hotel manager, Jhon. I am so glad that I went and was very impressed with Jhon’s knowledge and pride regarding the history and customs of his ancestors. In fact he was so passionate about sharing […] read full post >>

On arrival at Machu Picchu, we are told that this is a sanctuary, a sacred space. We are also provided with a list of prohibited objects and activities: no tripods or selfie sticks; no musical instruments or high heels; no … Continue reading → read full post >>

Encounters on Wayna Picchu read full post >>

imagine inhabitting this particular part of earth were here there are only the two seasons of wet and dry the day and the night love each other and share their times so evenly so i think the solstices must be sisters and i think that had the light and the dark clashed like they do back home read full post >>

I found Making Machu Picchu very interesting because it was a side of Machu Picchu that I have never considered before. Machu Picchu is several  different things to different people. It is both the past and the present and will also be the future as long as people continue to work to preserve it. And […] read full post >>

Of course I’m writing this week’s experience blog on Machu Picchu. I’m not unique. I’m not immune to the lure. Despite all I’ve read and heard about the making of Machu Picchu — the inequalities, extractivism, and displacement — I can’t help thinking, I want to bring my parents here. I’m going to be honest; ever […] read full post >>

That’s a loud title isn’t it! But cool it, this is just my interpretation of what Pablo Neruda may have meant by this beautiful verse of poetry in The Heights of Macchu Picchu. Here is said verse: “What was man? In what layer of his humdrum conversation, among his shops and sirens — in which […] read full post >>

“Geometria final, libro de piedra.”or “Ultimate geometry, book of stone.”(Neruda, pg. 36/37) This particular line from the heights of Macchu Picchu leaps off the page for me. Typically, we conceive of the Incas as an oral culture, and this comes with a stigma of impermanence. The letrados have a monopoly on ideas that endure, at […] read full post >>