Inti just spent about a week in the ancient city of Ollantaytambo. A bus shuttled us all from Cusco and dropped us off in the central plaza of the city. The first things you notice upon arrival are the ruins all around you. On the two mountains to the North and South, Incan arqueological sites almost blend in to the similarly colored sediment. To the South, terraces and temples flecked with gargantuan rocks form the head and neck of a llama. To the North, the ruins form a human face. We were awestruck by the ingenuity of the ancient civilization. The streets and alleyways, which have maintained their original grid from the pre-Spanish era, are lines with Sequias (small aqueducts or channels) which carry water to the Urubamba river downhill.
We spent the first half of our stay taking Spanish lessons from a non-profit called Awamaki. Principally, Awamaki works with indigenous women who weave crafts and clothes to be sold at the two Awamaki stores in Ollantaytambo. The crafts they make are intricately designed and overall esthetically pleasing. We assented that they would make great gifts for family members and took some of their products with us.
The second half of our visit was spent volunteering at Kuska school, an alternative education program for kids 5th grade and under. There, we swung hoes and shovels to dig a long, deep trench so that the school could install a pipeline and have another space to wash up before meals. In addition, we helps to install a mokeybars, a junglegym, and support beams for a building extension.
Our last day consisted of a hike to the nearby Salineras (salt pans). After a 20 minute hike, we arrived at an enourmous salt cultivation site on the side of a mountain. The pans were not unlike rice paddies in that rectangular sections were balkanized and filled with about 3 inches of water. Workers walked through them, mixing the salt with their feet and carrying bags of their product. After a group photo, we were prepared to depart for our last hours in Ollanta.
We’d like to thank our homestay families for feeding and sheltering us. Ollantaytambo, though touristy, is a gorgeous location with a lot to teach. We’re very grateful to have had the opportunity of visiting and getting to know the area.