In the morning, an early Aeroperu flight carried us right into the very heart of the ancient Inca Empire. Nestled in a valley at over 11,000 feet above sea level, Cusco is surrounded by some of the mightiest peaks of the Andes Mountains, and many of them were glistening with a perpetual mantle of ice and snow. Cusco is the oldest continually-inhabited city in the Western Hemisphere. We were met by our English-speaking guide and we then made our way by bus out of Cusco and into the historic Urubamba Valley. We made a never-to-be-forgotten stop at the gorgeous town of Pisac, which was an important agricultural center during the time of the Inca. There we had time to browse and shop at the famous market. We found many examples of beautiful Andean handicrafts, ranging from weaving to pottery. The market also offered all of the other, more mundane, staples of everyday life.
After an early breakfast, we visited the remote Willoq community, which ethnologists consider to be virtually unchanged in its social structure, dress and language from pre-Inca times. The inhabitants have chosen to preserve their ancient way of life, and their heritage is apparent -- especially in their textiles, which are much in demand in other communities. Intricate designs of animals, mountains, flowers and the stars are featured in brightly-colored blankets and clothing. We were able to see some of this process, from the carding and spinning of the wool to the handlooms where the textiles are woven. Natural dyes are used, and we were told about some of the plants utilized for this purpose.
