Day 9 Inca Ruins and More Zip Lining!
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This morning was KB's time to Co-Lead. KB had recently left Genentech and was pondering her next career path, Liz provided a lovely, thought provoking poem.
Katherine Brewer's Strength: Creation
Return of the Bird Tribes ~ Ken Carey “Creation does not take place where there is a scattering and dissipation of energies. Creation requires a gathering together and focusing of your power within a circle of commitment - like a seed, and egg, a womb, or a marriage... Consider wisely the ways in which you would use your power and then around those ways draw the sacred circle of commitment. In the warm atmosphere of that circle, the power of love builds like a storm above the wet summer prairie until suddenly the circle can hold no more and explodes in the conception of the new. This fire is more powerful than any one of you.”
KB's leadership was put to an immediate test. There was a munity afoot! Bone was not really into climbing, it was hot, it was at altitude, and Bone's stomach was only 50%. Not wanting "ralf" in front (or on!) his Teammates drove Liz to an idea that got KB's quick approval,,,, more Zip-Lining!!! Well that sounded like so much fun that Mike S, Kat, and Renee all jumped in line for the zip line!!!
With the Team split in two, everyone committed to link up again by 2:00 PM in one of Liz's favorite Bars in Machu Picchu City!!!
Team 1: Trekking to the Llactapata Ruins!
Mike went with Liz and Team on one heckuva climb on the Inkan Trail to the amazing Llactapata Ruins, which are located at 9,318 feet above sea level; it is thought to have been primarily used for crop plantations. Llactapata is a combination of two Quechua words, ‘llacta’ which means town and ‘pata’ which means at height. Discovered by Hiram Bingham (“discoverer” of Machu Picchu) was a hamlet of no more than 100 houses. The place looks like an immense mansion, a country house worthy of an Inca ruler and it could be the "Patallacta" or the final resting place of the famous Inkan Ruler, Pachacutec.
Llactapata an impressive ruin that is made up of the ceremonial center of Pulpituyoq, the urban sector, the agricultural area and the cemetery. There the Team admired the immense and complex system of terraces dedicated since ancestral times to the cultivation of food at the incredible altitude.
Llactapata may have also been a member of the network of interrelated administrative and ceremonial sites which supported the regional center at Machu Picchu. It probably played an important astronomical function during the solstices and equinoxes.
Team 2: The Zip-Lining Mutineers!
Bone, Mike S, Kat, and Renee jump in a Jeep for a 20 minute ride where they had to hike up a pretty steep cliff to get to a series of 8 Zip lines that crossed back forth across the valley. One of the junior guides Pablo, (who helped prevent Bone from falling of a cliff when we was sick!) accompanied the mutineers and made sure, each was properly geared up for the Zip line!
First Line!
The was it was set up the whole Team would cross one line, then position themselves for the next!
Going 45 MPH at 8,000 Feet!
Buh,Bye Boney!
Like a Bad Penny, the Return of the Bone!
Zip Line 3, Done!
An Interesting Climb to Last Launch Site!
Several of the Launch Sites were highly technically challenging climbs, so much for an easy afternoon! The cool thing was for each line, the Team was higher and the line longer!
7 Lines up, 7 Lines down, No Fatalities or Injuries!
Zip-lining has the ability to warp the Time-Space Continuum. What only felt like 30 minutes on the 7 lines was really half the day! After the last line, Team 2 headed to the end of the Road, Machu Picchu City to re-unite with Mike, Liz, and the rest of the Team!
Not Machu Picchu, Machu Picchu City!
Machu Picchu City or Aguas Calientes was the most touristy city the Team saw on the entire trip.It is a town in the Urubamba River Valley and is known as as a gateway to the Machu Picchu Site. The town center is full of eateries and shops, anchored by the central Mercado Artesanal, a craft market. Northwest, along the river. After a VERY short walk they found Liz, Mike, and Team in a familiar spot,,,,, A Bar!!!!!
The Re-United Team, Enjoying a few Cocktails in a Very Cool Bar in Machu Picchu City!!!
The whole Team reunited with stories a many and drinks a plenty. Everybody noshed a bit till about 3:00 when Liz led the troops to the very posh InkaTerra Pueblo, where the Team would reside for the next 2 nights.
