Peru Day Five – Urubamba, Peru
We spent the day learning more about the Peruvian people who live here in the Sacred Valley
There were stunning trumpet flowers in a tree outside our hotel room.
We visited an elementary School we visited. We met 13 charming 4th graders and spent some time with them and their teacher.
The children came out and grabbed each of our hands to show us around. Doris showed Mary her work in Spanish, while she tried to respond in Spanish. Doris is adorable and said she wants to be a doctor when she grows up.
We went to a local market. Just imagine a Super Walmart, but Peruvian style. This market had everything you could think of for food, clothing, toys, household goods, an electronics repair shop and a tailor!
A women was taking corn kernels off the fresh cob, and THEN peeling the skin off of the kernels. She was so kind, she let us try it, and we weren’t very good at it!
Local taxis were decorated and on parade in Urubamba, Peru
Peter tried to make a mad dash for the border with six kilos of coca leaves. Coca for personal use is accepted and traditional in Peru. We all tried it, and can honestly say it is an acquired taste. Many of the field workers use it daily to give them energy.
Local mototaxis were lined up to take people to and from the market for one sol (30 cents). Most are imported from Japan India and China.
We toured a local cemetery high in the Andes in Urubamba, Peru. Their burial practices are similar to ours, however, on the Day of the Dead (Nov. 2nd) they celebrate on their loved ones burial place, with what was their favorite food, drink, and music.
Because of the shortage of ground space most are buried in above ground mausoleums today. The more expensive ones are one the bottom.
We could see switchbacks in the distance that lead high up into the mountains in Urubamba, Peru
We saw several of these red bags on sticks in front of houses. If they are up and hanging toward the road that indicates that that particular house is selling chicha de jora. This is an Andean fermented corn beer dating back to the ancient Incan Empire.
To make chicha de jora, corn kernels are soaked until they spout. Then they are added to water to make a mash that ferments. After seven days or so the chicha de jora, is ready for consumption
Behind the house where we had the chicha de jora, corn was drying in the sun
We stopped along the road and spoke with these workers, mostly women who were rotating corn cobs in the sun to dry them. Each cob must be rotated six times over a week or so and each one is rotated by hand. This was being done in several different places in Urubamba, Peru. The kernels are huge compared to what we are used to.
A local family invited us to lunch. Here is the Grandmother, Bertha, was cooking tortillas from dough we had made. Notice the wood on the lower right that is being used to heat the skillet. She told me that food cooks faster over wood compared to propane which is also very expensive.
One of the delicacies in Peru is Cuy (COO-ee), guinea pig. Mary presented a roasted one that we had for lunch The Grandmother at the house we visited raises hundreds of these for a living. They are considered a delicacy and a really treat to enjoy.
There are ornaments are on many of the local homes for good luck or blessing. The oxen represent agriculture because they still farm using oxen, the cross represents God, and who knows what the beer bottle represents!
We visited the Seminario Ceramics Atudio. The studio employs 50 people who have been train in the Seminario style, which essential means they make all their pottery using the same methods as the Inca culture used. A potter worksedon the top of a jar that is about four feet tall.
Pieces are left to dry in the sun for several days before they are fired
Pablo Seminario, a trained architect turned artist, who took to ceramics in the 70s. He was very congenial and was in no rush for us to leave. He explained that now most of his time is devoted to higher end pieces. Behind him you can see sketches of some planned and finished pieces. The piece to the right was a mixed-media ceramic piece with copper, silver and gold. I bet it would fetch $20,000 plus.
We took a walk to the local square in Urubamba.