Ollantaytambo, Cusco and Onward!

Left Aguas and Machu Picchu sadly after spending the morning walking along the river and visiting the Jardin Botanica where I saw a lot of birds which I will need to research upon my return.  Walking back to town, I met Erika (Spokane) and Maria (Holland) who were on their way back to Cusco where they are volunteering at a school.  Erika was interested in my Katadyn water filter because her boyfriend has just designed a new (and he thinks better) filter system.  If you're interested, it's called the Grayl and you can see it (and even invest if you want) at a site called Kickstarters.  I then said adios por ahora to my new friend, Soledad and headed off to the train.  I'm not sure how, but I had seat No. 1 which is the very front seat of the train with a big picture Window.  It was very cool, except for the very large grouchy German guy sitting next to me with a horrible butt crack (he kept getting up to take pictures in the back of the car and flashing it at me - yuk!).
Got back to Ollantaytambo, walked around town, painted, had a Peruvian burrito (yummy) and came back to my hotel where I met Tom, Victoria, Alan And Kerry from Santa Barbara. They offered me a glass of wine.  Do I ever refuse a glass of wine?  They are all archeology buffs who had just returned from Keulap, Chiclayo, Sipán and Huaca el Bruja (maybe others?).  With the exception of Chiclayo which is a pueblo, they are all ruins in a not easily accessible area of Northern Peru  from different cultures.  They showed me pictures of relief carvings and mummies that were totally amazing.  I'm thinking another trip to Peru????

Moray

A Street in Ollantaytambo 

Victoria, Kerry, Alan And Tom

Looking Down on Ollantaytambo 

We ended up spending the next day visiting Salinas and Moray and I had a great time and learned some things too!  For instance, it's believed that Moray was sort of an Inkan laboratory for crops with each concentric circle having its own microclimate.  (Thanks Kerry!).  They are kind, smart and fun people and I hope our paths cross in the future.

I left Ollantaytambo by taking two combis (think VW van with 15-20 people).  Hey, it only cost 7.5 soles to get to Cusco!  Met a young woman named Lauren from DC who has received a grant to study the Quecha language and will be living in Urubamba until next April.  Upon returning to Cusco l walked up to Sacsaywamán, but couldn't get in without paying a lot (bummer) and the sun was beginning to set so I walked back down through the square.  The good news is that I was able to walk up hills and stairs without altitude sickness so I've adjusted and it's off to Puno and Lake Titicaca I go!