A Sensory Overload – Peru!

South America proves to be everything and more than what Shirin Mehta was hoping. Here’s her first person account of her visit to Peru under the protective umbrella of a luxury tour by Globus

Peru
Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu

Peru is where the real adventure begins. We arrive in the capital city, Lima, on Halloween to kids making merry on the streets with sparkly bunny ears and bows. Lima is a city of beautiful old buildings with trellised balconies and large squares. All this, we discover on a tour of the capital. From the beautiful Miraflores district where our hotel is located, we traverse the large Arequipa Avenue, the San Isidro district, the San Martin Square surrounded by exquisite white buildings. Then, we come to the main square the Plaza Mayor. A visit to the San Francisco Monastery reveals its unique cloisters and catacombs. And a visit to the Larco Museum highlights the largest private collection of Pre-Columbian Peruvian art in the world.

Sightseeing

Cusco

The following day, we fly to Cusco (11,000 feet above sea level). Cusco is an Andean city that was once the capital of the Inca Empire. Here we witness an El Pago a la Tierra or Mother Earth ceremony on a hillside under a thatched roof. Performed by a local shaman who invokes Pachamama or Mother Earth’s blessings for good health and safe travels, it is reassuring. Our drive through the Sacred Valley of the Andes now begins with the sky constantly changing colours and moods. We stop at Pisac, a mountain village. It is overshadowed by tall peaks, flaunting a market known for its silverware, alpaca sweaters and hand-painted dishes. Little girls in traditional dress carrying baby lambs or leading alpaca llamas walk around. And they call out to us to be photographed for a dollar.

The drive continues with stops at vantage points. Stands of eucalyptus trees, rich green valleys, ancient terraces, swathes of cultivated corn and the Urubamba River form the backdrop for brick homes with tiled roofs. Our guide, Enrique, tells us the tale of these people, his people, and how they have embraced the Catholic religion while adhering to Inca customs. He, and eventually we, invoke the blessings of Pachamama for all the good things that we witness on this trip. Today, he tells us, is the day of the dead and we see, as we drive past, families outside graveyards, drinking and partying with their ancestors. In festive spirit, guinea pigs roasted on sticks are being sold at every corner.

Machu Picchu

We are slowly drawing closer to the highlight of this tour. A visit to Machu Picchu or the Lost City of the Incas. In the shadow of this incredible site, however are others. We visit the Inca fortress, Ollantaytambo, a five-minute bus ride from the station of the Vistadome train to Machu Picchu that we now board. This takes us on the less-than-two-hour ride through the Urubamba Valley — a wild and rugged landscape. We pass some ancient sites and an Inca bridge. We see the beginning of the iconic Inca Trail. This is a hiking path up the mountain to Machu Picchu that takes three nights and four days. This can be as luxurious as you choose, with coolies, cooks and masseuses in tow. A local bus takes us up the mountain to the ancient ruins.

The first sight of Machu Picchu is unforgettable. The Inca terraces rise up in front of us and to the left-hand side. To the right, immense mountains sweep into deep valleys. It is spectacular! We walk through the ruins, marveling at the immense knowledge of the Incas. Their cleverness in creating the terraces that have withstood the ravages of time and the lashings of rain, at the temples built for Pachamama, to the Condor god, to wind and water: fascinating. We climb to the ancient sundial at the top. There, we review the exact positioning of the windows of the sun temple. And as we near the end of our walk around this mystic place, a rainbow forms in the valley as large drops of rain begin to splatter all around.

Enrique tells us that he has grown up visiting this site since he was six years old. But no two visits have ever been the same. An early-morning visit here, the next day, reveals a fabulous sunrise. And then it is back onto the train to Ollantaytambo. Here, our trusty buses are waiting to take us back to Cusco. The next day reveals further Inca sites on a tour of the area. The central square of the old city, Plaza de Armas, a pedestrian-only area, beckons with its cathedral, church, old buildings with carved balconies, remnants of old Inca walls. There are the ubiquitous McDonald’s and KFC under the ancient arcades. A band plays lustily as we traverse the cobbled square. A fitting farewell to this land of music, food and rugged beauty.

By now, the members of the group swap a myriad personal stories among themselves. Everyone learns to be on time, concentrate on instructions and maintain team spirit. But none of us are prepared for the astounding sight that we are to witness shortly.

Text and Photographs by Shirin Mehta

Shirin Mehta is the Fashions Feature and Lifestyle Editor at Verve Magazine. She traveled on GLOBUS Spirit of South America with her husband Mr. Hormaz Mehta.

With Globus, every journey tells a story. When we envision the perfect vacation, we see great hotels, amazing food, incredible sightseeing, and above all, we imagine creating memories galore! On a Globus fully escorted tour, a professional handles all the details, logistics and scheduling for you. Visit Globusjourneys.in for more information