iStory Trip to Peru

Today I visited the sacred valley where I saw amazing artists at work. The towns people had the hair of sheep hair and alpaca hair and weaved it into wonderful things such as rugs and clothing. I purchased two gloves, a scarf, a wool poncho, and two containers to hold wine. All very beautiful, handmade and colorful. The sacred valley is an earth quake region and many of the homes built on hills have been destroyed by the earthquake that took place on August 15th. I was told that this day is called the Virgin Assumption Day and that the month of August is the month of the mother earth. The towns people were very scared during this time because the thought mother earth was upset with them. I learned that the root from a potato here is shaved and used as a natural shampoo to clean the hair of the animals as well ad human hair. It took out all the dirt! Was amazing to watch. Than a dyeing process took place where special flowers, insects and vegetables where used to tint the threads. The o...

For lunch we went to a really pretty restaurant where I got to take fabulous photos with a lama, an alpaca, and a parrot. There were beautiful flowers all around and the food was delicious. In particular, there was this dish that was like a layered cake. It contained layers of tuna fish, avocados, mashed potatoes, and at the top it was covered in sticks of cheese. I took.a picture of this dish. Its below:

Today I traveled to the mountains of Cusco. I wish it went better than it did because after about the first hour I got really sick because of the altitude and had to head back to the hotel to take some medicine. I did manage to record an interview with a native and take some pictures with lamas! Resting up now, will post some pictures tomorrow.

Inside this museum I learned many new things and took lots of pictures! I've split up my findings into a few different categories: Pottery Sexual Statues Paintings and Drawings Preserving a Quilt Guidelines and Charts Illnesses and Malidies Music Form of Recording News, the Quipus

Sitting here in the airplane and guess what, person next to me is on the iStory trip too! Her name is Colleen. Hope to meet more people! Here's a picture!

Now, I'm officially excited this time tomorrow I will be at the airport, I can't wait. I've started my day today with a notebook to make sure I jot down all the gadgets I need for Peru. It's particularly cold outside today, high 30! So I'm even more relieved to be traveling to Peru, some 70 degree weather looks swell right about now!