Last Rotary Trip- part 5

A journal entry by the leader over all of the exchange students in Peru, Henry. 
El 24 de octubre disfrutamos de la maravilla del mundo MACHU PICCHU, al inicio Aguas Calientes sin luz eléctrica por dos días, lloviendo toda la noche hasta las 7 am, pero el sol se abrió para mostrarnos la maravilla del mundo a todos los estudiantes de Intercambio 2014-2015. Un día espectacular, los estudiantes subieron a Machu Picchu con mucha energía caminando desde Aguas Calientes.

We enjoyed the "Wonder of the World", Machu Picchu, on October 24, 2014. We started in the city of Aguas Calientes where we were without electricity for 2 days. It also rained all night until 7 am, but the sun came out to show the wonder of the world to all of the exchange students in Peru during the year 2014-2015. It was a spectacular day. The exchange students climbed up Machu Picchu (or rode in a bus) with a lot of energy from Aguas Calientes.

The time spent in this city without lights was so fun.  I don't remember exactly why the lights had been shut out, but they had.  I remember we found a little pizza shop and ate pizza made from this gigantic oven in the middle of the shop. The pizza was the best pizza I had ever eaten!  I still remember it. I loved this trip so much. This part of Peru was just so breathtaking. I am here writing in my journal months later, and sadly, I don't remember every detail. I remember how alive I felt though. That is the best way to describe it. I remember constantly being blown away by how beautiful and majestic everything was though.  One more testimony to me that we have a God. He's an architect, a scientist, and the worlds greatest artist.

Early morning waiting for the bus to take us up to Machu Picchu from the city below.  We got out and it was raining and cold. We waited at the top for our friends who wanted to climb up the mountain. It warmed up and the sun came out. It was a perfect day.

"Soul sisters"

The 2 Australians that were with me from the beginning of January. The only 2 with me the entire year. Eloise and Kaylee.

Exchange girls

• Machu Picchu means old mountain. It was made in the 15th century in 1439, Machu Picchu built for Pachacutec, The Inca Emperor. Only 700 people lived in Machu Picchu. Those who did live there where among the noblest in the Inca Empire. It is so big, because a huge part of it was a religious sector. The Inca himself was a king. He lived in Cuzco, the center of the Empire. Again we learned about them sacrificing llama and guinea pig in Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu is so special, because all the structures are original Inca structures. The Spanish never found it to destroy it. They put straw on the roofs of all the houses. They brought the straw in on llama's backs from the highlands. 
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• They grew corn, potatoes, and quinwa. The people of the Inca Empire who lived in Machu Picchu only drank water from a spring in the mountains. They used channels to get it to their city. They have 16 fountains that water still flows through from the mountains to the city.
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• They used 8 trails to get between their city, the jungle, and other places. All of the people living in Machu Picchu would be carried through the trails by soldiers. In 1540 they abandoned the city, because the Spaniards were close. They didn't want them to find their city. It was abandoned for 400 years before it was found. When Machu Picchu was found it was completely covered in jungle.
• Hiram Bingham found Machu Picchu and 2 local families living in Machu Picchu in 1911. Those families had arrived to Machu Picchu in 1902. They used the Incas terraces to grow their own food. They weren't interested in the history of the city. They were only interested in farming. Hiram worked for 3 years to clean up Machu Picchu.
• The common buildings and temples had different forms or being built. You can tell that the walls of the temples aren't as evenly laid. The temple was used to worship to Viracocha. He was the creator of the world. The Inca people spoke Quechua. 15% of peru still speaks Quechua (which I've already talked about in this blog).
• There was a temple dedicated to Pachamama or mother nature. 
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• There were many places where you would find a half of the Inca cross. On the 21 of June the shadow would hit it directly to make their cross and symbol. 
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  They knew EXACLTY where the north was just by looking at the constellations of the stars.
• They made offerings to the most sacred mountain. I like this rock that is shaped like the surrounding mountains. 
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  They used observatories to observe the seasons on Machu Picchu. Shadows would shine from a rock from different points like north east south and west.
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  They would then be able to tell the season. They sacrificed llamas in the plaza in front of another sacred rock. The rock is also the shape of a guinea pig. The guinea pig was sacred and only eaten during the festivals. During the festivals celebrated in the plaza the didn't need a microphone. Everyone could hear because it was constructed to amplify and echo. Other plazas were used to have markets and other gatherings. 
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• The used water mirrors to observe the sun and moon. The mirrors actually worked. I looked at the water and could see the reflection of the sun. Priest would often observe the moon at night.  
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• The virgins lived together and were prepared to marry the Inca, the king. He had between 60-100 wives. Priest picked the next king by looking at who was the best kid.
• Everything I have written up to this point in the blog entry I had previously written in my notes, so I wouldn't forget it. The first half of my notes got destroyed. I will now try to remember what little I can about a couple other pictures. Forgive me if I make stuff up (: You could always just Google it!
• These huge rocks were carried in on the trails. Each one, individually. They then made their own quarry where they would cut into the stone to make all their constructions.
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  They had a little flower garden and I remember that I found this so interesting. This flower was used for something. It made you pass out or have weird hallucinations or something. I wish so bad that I could remember. Oh well, if anyone ever goes, let me know what this flower did!!! 
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• So that my friends is the end of the pictures for this trip. (: