Playing Tourist For A Day
The warm smile of a Quechua woman in the traditional dress of the people of Chinchero.
Last week I had a friend of a very good friend here on vacation and I was able to be a tourist for a day. It was a welcome break to have some company from home and to stop for a moment to just enjoy where I am.
The outskirts of Chinchero against the peaks of the The Andes
We decided to do a tour visiting several places throughout the Sacred Valley. It is not the normal way I travel or what I tend to do, but it was fun to approach it from the perspective of a tourist rather than a photojournalist.
The fascinating agriculture studies of the Incas at Moray
I couldn’t completely check my thinking cap though as I used it as an opportunity to do some location scouting. Several of the places we visited are on the list for my project.
The salt pools of Maras.
It was a long day and we packed a lot in, but it was still very enjoyable. I learned a lot as our guide, Ider is from the area we visited. Ider is the guide from the hike in the previous post and the co-owner of the tour company with his wife Hilaria. They are the people helping me with tackling the seemingly never-ending job of getting my visa to stay.
Ollantaytambo - an ancient place for selfies.
I was able to speak to him more about my project since it was just us doing the tour together. He had a lot of information to offer and plenty of good ideas of places and things to include in the story. We have made some plans to do a few photo trips together for the project moving forward, which I am excited about.
So many shameless selfies :) Ider & Sylvia
There have been so many generous and kind people that have offered help along the way with my project. I feel very fortunate and many things have lined up incredibly well. It is good to stop and remember that and to take moments like this to enjoy it.
The remarkable agricultural terraces of Pisac.
I am looking forward to a visit from those of you who choose to travel to Peru while I am living here. I can play tour guide for those that do make the trip. It is such an incredibly beautiful place with a rich culture and great food. You won’t regret it.
MB
