First of all our driver took us to Chinchero where we went to see some local weavers. The skill they have which has been passed down through centuries is amazing. I can´t describe the whole process here but it was fascinating to see the different things they use to make the dyes, including cochineal for the red dye. I have always know that the colour cochineal comes from a beetle of the same name but had assumed that they were big black beetles. Not so, they are tiny white beetles that live on a cactus plant. One of the ladies removed a couple and then squidged them on her hand. The red colour was instantaneous. She then used a drop of lime juice and this changed the colour to orange. I could have stayed and watched longer but time was moving on and we had to continue with our visit to Chinchero.
We then made our way to the spectacular benched terraces of Moray (picture to follow). From here we walked to our lunch stop where our driver had erected a tent and a toilet tent and Flora had busied herself setting out lunch for us. We expected a simple lunch but found the set up in the photo below. We had our first taste of Inka Cola, which is bright yellow and very confusing because it tasted and smelled like Vimto!!!!
After lunch we set off walking and eventually arrived at Maras where we went to see the salt pans. Unfortunately by this time we were literally running out of time so the visit was very quick but it was fascinating to see how the salt is collected from the water that runs from the mountain.
We returned to our hotel at 18:30 tired but having had a throughly enjoyable day.
Tomorrow we leave this hotel and the Sacred Valley and return to Cusco for two nights before starting the trek to Machu Picchu. So far the acclimitisation is going well and the walk today at 11,600 ft presented no problems.
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