Hello fellow Steemians,
In this post I would like to talk again about Ollantaytambo in Peru, as it is a subject I left unfinished.
While visiting the ruins there, I was impressed by the Temple of the Sun (Templo del Sol), with its huge Wall of the Six Monoliths.
The Temple of the Sun
Each monolith above weighs over 50 tons, and it was a huge feat bringing them here from the quarry of Chachicata four miles away across the valley on the opposite mountainside! There was a seventh monolith they tried to bring too, the ‘Sayccusca Rumi’ (tired stone), but the cable they were hauling it with broke, and the stone rolled downhill, killing over three thousand Indians (1).
I can't help wondering how many people died by such accidents in Egypt, while they were constructing the Pyramids.
Anyway, it was a great vantage point up there, and I could see all across the valley.
Farmers were ploughing the land the old fashioned way, using cows. Hard life for farmers, harder for the cows.
I reluctantly started my descent towards the entrance of the site, where you could see some well preserved traditional Inca houses.
Traditional Inca houses (bicycle not included)
There was a market outside the archaeological site where you could buy some pretty local artifacts.
And then we went to a restaurant where had our dinner. The restaurant was inside a hotel complex of traditional colonial architecture.
And that was the end of our excursion to Ollantaytambo, a day well spent. I hope you liked my post, and that you will follow me to the next one.
Have a good day, and speak to you soon!
References:
1.Text from http://www.galacticresonance.org/mysterious-stones-ollantaytambo-peru-temple-of-the-sun/.