The Incans studied the stars in pools of water. From these studies they determined angle degrees of constellations. This helped them to build so the sun would shine through certain windows at the winter solstice, for example. Most of their important buildings are lined up in a specific way which shows they knew at what angles they should be built.
Before the train ride, we walked through a cemetary in Urubamba. Most of the peoples' caskets are placed in family crypts. (See photo.) My photo shows a crypt that holds eight people. Family members bring in fresh flowers. On November 1 & 2, many families celebrate Soul's Day. They bring a meal, usually a favorite meal of their family member that had passed away. They eat it by the grave, leaving a plate of food there for that person. Then they drink chicha, play music, and dance.
We also stopped at a home where the family makes chicha for people to buy. Chicha is made from corn. (See photo.) The yellow class is natural color; the pink is with strawberries added. This beverage is important to the local people. I purchased a yarn necklace here that Peruvians used in the past for keeping track of numbers. For example, they kept track of how much they produced in crops for the year on this necklace. I'll bring it to school.
We are going back to Machu Picchu tomorrow morning, even though it is supposed to rain. After our train ride back out, we are riding in a bus to Cusco, my favorite city.
Thanks for all the great questions! Have a great day!
Questions for the day:
Amelia Birker- "Why do they eat guinea pigs?"
Answer- Guinea pigs are something that many families can afford to raise on their own. We have to remember that Peruvians don't have a lot of money. Over the years, it has become important to eat it for special occasions. It's hard for us to understand since many of us have guinea pigs for pets.
Local beliefs are that if you go to a medicine man (shaman), he will take a black guinea pig and rub it all over a sick person's body. Then they sacrifice (kill) the guinea pig as an offering to god. This is supposed to cure the sick person. Many people still do this today, especially if something is not cured by a medical doctor.
Trenton Sivola- "Why were the kids so happy about getting a toothbrush?"
Answer- First, the kids were in first grade. So if you remember being six years old, most new things were exciting. Second, kids here don't have many material things or toys. So getting anything new is a big deal. Also, wouldn't any six-year-old boy love an Iron Man toothbrush? Many Peruvians don't have money to just go to a store and buy fun things. So this was a treat.
Paul Johnson- "What animals besides llamas and guinea pigs do you see?"
Answer- Along the road we see oxen, cattle, sheep, pigs, dogs, cats, a tarantula, condors, ducks, chickens, goats, and chinchillas which are wild. Farmers will tie up cattle, sheep, pigs, and goats to graze then move them later to eat more grass.
I couldn't resist answering this next question!
Hailey Lovell- "Do they have a jail there and what does it look like?"
Answer- Yes, they have jails in Peru but I hope to never see one. Our tour guide said that people are not fed in prison here. Their family must bring them food. So, if a visitor would be in jail, they wouldn't have anything to eat.
One member of our group almost sat down on a rock in Machu Picchu today. As she went to sit, a security officer blew a whistle at her to not sit on the rock! She was grateful to not get in trouble, although she wouldn't be put in jail for sitting on a special rock. Being in jail in a foreign country is never a good idea. You may be kept there and not get home.
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