Blatts in Peru: Pisaq Ruins of Peru

We clamored off the bus in Pisaq (or Pisac), wondering what all the commotion was about. Locals crowded the streets on Christmas afternoon.  A chorus of drummers were pounding away, and a group of costumed revelers were parading in the streets.  Most wore frightening masks made of alpaca skin, and others wore native costumes and danced wildly, even pulling an unwilling police officer into their midst and whipping him with rope!   I asked the locals what it all meant.  A woman told me the parade was to honor the children, but generally, the marauding revelers served to scare the children more than anything!  The revelers made their way around town all evening long, stopping into the groceries and hostals to wreak havoc! 

Later that night, local children raced through the streets, lifting taller boys onto their shoulders to pull down the toys and gifts hanging from eucalyptus branches strung across the narrow alleyways. From windows and balconies, candies were thrown down to the thrill of the throng!

The next morning, Steve hiked up to Pisaq's Ruins, while the kids and I followed in a cab. Once we all met up, the hiking was spectacular, with treacherous trails, shaky stairs and amazing vistas at every turn. Temples, homes, burial grounds peppered the landscape for miles of trails, as we all walked down to the village together. Awesome!