Peru, Unit B: Mysteries of the Inca Empire

Headed Home

2009-08-05T12:08:00.006-04:00

Hello family and friends,

After three weeks of traveling and exploring Peru, our expedition has come to an end and we are headed home. All of the students have finished their On Assignment projects which can now be viewed online. To see the final Photography On Assignment projects, click here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/jordangantz/NationalGeographicStudentExpeditionsPeruB2009#

To preview the Archaeology and Ancient Culture On Assignment group's "Time Traveler's Guide Book to the Inca Empire", click here:

http://www.blurb.com/books/798350

We hope that these projects, along with this blog, help to share some of the experiences we have had together.

All the best,
Lindsay and Jordan

Below are some examples of student photography used in On Assignment projects.

photo by Hannah Dunsirn

photo by Kaia de Bruin

photo by Saskia Taylor

Wrapping Up!

2009-08-05T11:58:00.007-04:00

August 3: Wrapping Up!
Blog written by Jessie Ludin, Upperville, Virginia

The day started off with each student working to finish up their On Assignment projects and preparing for the evening presentation session. For the Photography students it was picking their top five photos of the trip and for the Archaeology and Ancient Culture students it was finishing up their guidebook. We split up in groups for lunch and met back up at the hostel at 3:00 to get ready for our final presentations.

We were happy to have Peter Frost joined us to view our presentations and to sign his books at the end of the session. At 7:00 we headed off for dinner at a fashionable restaurant called Fallen Angel. After dinner we celebrated being all finished up by heading to a salsa club to practice our newly learned dancing skills!

Photos below by Emma Lewis from Arlington MA

Expedition leader Lindsay helping the Archaeology and Ancient Culture
On Assignment students put the finishing touches on
the group's final project, 'A Guidebook to the Inca Empire'

Photography student Katie Lohman picks out her top photos to share
with the group during the evening project presentation session

National Geographic Expert Peter Frost signs one of his books
after the On Assignment Project presentations are finished

Students celebrate the successful wrapping up of their
On Assignment projects during our last dinner in Cusco.

Machu Picchu, Day 2

2009-08-05T11:42:00.006-04:00

August 2: Machu Picchu, Day 2
Blog written by Margaret Ridgely Gaier, Vero Beach, FL

It felt as if we had just fallen asleep when it was time to wake up at 3:30 a.m. As we all came down the stairs with our bags in hand to start with the day you could feel the fatigue in the air. When we made it to the bus station there were only a few people in front of us; we felt as if we had already overcome our first obstacle.

We waited around for an hour and half to find out we all made it on the first and second bus of the day to Machu Picchu. When we got to the site we entered through the ticket gate and then we had to run to be in the first 400 people allowed to hike up Waynapicchu. Waynapicchu is the large 'sugarloaf' mountain behind Machu Picchu. The views from the top of Waynapicchu are spectacular, especially looking toward the ruins and seeing the river below and snowcapped mountains all around you. It was an adventure to make sure we all got spots to go on the hike and we were relieved when we finally made it past the gate leading to the start of the hiking trail.

It was a tedious climb up innumerable Inca steps to the top but we all eventually made it. We were given about an hour to wander the ruins of Waynapicchu and to take in the view before we made our decent back to Machu Picchu (which was easier said than done!).

After a short rest we met up with Peter Frost for a tour of the urban sector of Machu Picchu. As we made our way through the site, we learned everything we would need to know about Machu Picchu, and although we were exhausted from our early start, we were also fascinated by what Peter had to say. Eventually it was time to say goodbye to Machu Picchu and start our four hour journey back to Cusco.

When we finally arrived in Cusco we were all anxious for dinner, and headed straight to a restaurant. After dinner we returned back to our hostel to sleep so that we could start a new day with a new adventure.

Photos below by Alexa Garant, Tecumseh, Ontario:

Waiting (well, sleeping) in the line to get on the bus to get to Machu Picchu early enough to secure a spot the hike to Waynapicchu.

Machu Picchu, now considered one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

We were at the ruins in time to see the sunrise!

National Geographic Expert Peter Frost giving the up an introduction to the ruins

Emma encounters one of Machu Picchu's resident llamas while Kaia looks on in the background

Forrest finds a spot to contemplate the mysteries of Machu Picchu in the site's quarry.

Arriving in Machu Picchu

2009-08-05T11:32:00.007-04:00

August 1: Arriving in Machu Picchu

Blog written by Felix Jordan, Cologne, Germany

Today our journey reached its climax with our arrival at Machu Picchu. We woke up at 5 am and hustled to our bus, which took us to the train station. Our train was scheduled to leave at 6 and we left without any delays. The ride was supposed to be some 3 hours long, which no one was looking forward to. It ended up taking 4 hours due to some delays and everyone was glad to get to the hostel. We settled in, got ready, and left for lunch at a pizzeria. After lunch we finally left for what we had all been waiting for: Machu Picchu.

To reach our destination we had to take another bus 25 minutes up a very steep and curvy road. Because we came in at around 2:00 p.m., most of the day tourists were gone and we had the new world wonder for ourselves. After a group photo in front of the magnificent scenery with our National Geographic flag we set out to explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site. With an exceptional light and close to no soul in sight we were embraced by Machu Picchu's grandiosity. With hesitation we left the ruins and went to dinner. Looking forward to the next day we went to bed.

The train that took us from Cusco to Aguas Calientes,
the town at the base of Machu Picchu.
Photo by Kathleen Pait, Little Rock AR

Zac our videographer getting some shots of Machu Picchu
Photo by Kathleen Pait

Guardhouse
Photo by Kathleen Pait

Looking down toward Machu Picchu through the winter grass

Photo by Kathleen Pait

Hannah and Emma taking it all in at the ruins.
Photo by Kathleen Pait

The group at Machu Picchu and, in the background, the mountain of Waynapicchu.
Photo by Expedition Leader Jordan Gantz

A Day at Casa de Milagros

2009-08-01T10:51:00.004-04:00

July 31 - A Day at Casa de Milagros
Blog written by Emma Lewis, Arlington, MA

Today, after a hearty breakfast, we left our hostel and made our way to Casa de Milagros, an orphanage in Lamay. We got off the bus and saw the stunning hacienda in which the orphanage is located. Mountains and sunshine surrounded us. Alan, who started Casa de Milagros with his wife Marie twelve years earlier, greeted us. He explained that after losing their three-month-old son, Chandler, both he and Marie wanted to give their love to children who had lost their parents. Thirty-five children are currently living at Casa de Milagos, four of whom are natural children of Alan and Marie, and thirty-one of whom were taken into the House of Miracles after being orphaned. They are all part of a happy, loving family. After touring the hacienda and learning about the organically grown food, rabbits, ducks, horses, and many activities that are available to the children, we got to work.

The archeologists were in for a real treat! One of the jobs that needed to get done was exposing an ancient wall that had been encased in dirt for years. This would allow more room to harvest corn and would also make it possible to find ancient Inca stones, which had been used in the wall. We had a great time! The group found many ceramic pieces, bones, a tooth, a chess piece, a pocket watch, and stones that dated back to the Inca Empire!

The photographers were given the honor of taking photographs of the children that would be included in the Casa de Milagros brochure. Each photographer was assigned two or three children to portrait. We also got a chance to help out in the kitchen. We really enjoyed hand peeling the potatoes that we were to have for lunch!

After meeting all of the kids and having a little snack, some of us head out back to play volleyball or swing on the swings with the kids. A couple of us decided it would be fun to lead a dance lesson for the kids. Our recently acquired salsa skills sure came in handy! All of us were laughing and having a great time.

For lunch, we had a delicious home grown meal of rice with vegetables, potatoes, eggs, and chicken. We were all very full, but not too full to stop us from playing some more volleyball! All of the kids were much better than us, but we all had a lot of fun. Because the kids spoke no English, we all had the opportunity to work on our Spanish.

We were so sad when it came time to say goodbye to our new friends. We gave our last high fives and got back on the bus with heavy hearts. Everyone at Casa de Milagros radiated love and kindness, both towards each other and towards the group. We all agreed that the experience is something that we’ll keep with us for a long time.

When we got back to the hostel, we were given a bit of free time to explore Cusco. Later that afternoon, we broke off onto On Assignment teams. The Photography students started to pick out their favorite photos from the trip and the archeology students worked more on the guidebook. That night, we watched a great National Geographic movie featuring Peter Frost. It was a very full day, but one of the best we’ve had so far.

Alan, one of the owners of the orphanage, and his daughter Lily
taking us on a walk around the house
Photo by Hannah Dunsirn, Menasha, WI

Using the assembly line technique to move stones from a field
in front of the orphanage. Archaeology students had fun finding
Spanish colonial era artifacts in the dirt piles they were helping to move!
Photo by Hannah Dunsirn

Gabby, Katie and Emma helping out in the kitchen
Photo by Hannah Dunsirn

Katie helping to teach some of the kids a dance lesson
Photo by Hannah Dunsirn

lunch time!
Photo by Hannah Dunsirn

Jessie takes one of the orphanage resident's photos
for use in a new brochure. Photo students were happy to put
their skills use for such a good cause.
Photo by expedition leader Lindsay Mackenzie

An Ode to Saqsaywaman

2009-08-01T10:41:00.003-04:00

July 30 - An Ode to Saqsaywaman

Blog written by Brian Lang from New City, NY

At 7:45 we got out of bed
for a breakfast of croissants and bread

We took taxis, to be exact four
to Saqsaywaman, site of Incan war

We picked up Peter, our extraordinary guide
who to the Incan ruin with us he’d ride

We showed our tickets and passed through the gate
We were so excited, the ruins looked great

Stone upon stone, some bigger than cars
A ruin fit for kings, incas and czars

The stones were fitted by average Incan Joes
How they did it? Nobody knows

The sun was bright as we started to climb
the tiring trek up the stones of lime.

Once we had gotten to the top of the ruin
we saw all of Cusco at just about noon

The steps were awkward coming up and going down
even the rocky steps caused great astound

The other side of Saqsai had stone Incan slides
children for years have given them rides

We had so much fun riding them too
we were glad we didn’t go elsewhere in lieu

We then lurked through a forty yard cave
on the way in to Zak we waved

Next we would hike o’er a mile
we’d stay at the ruins of Q’enko for a while

Q’enko is a quechua phrase for zig zag
the tour of these ruins was so not a drag

We walked through the labyrinth of rocks and stones
and alcoves which held ancient Inca bones

Off then we went to the potato fields
farmers making Chunyu out of what harvest wields

Chunyu are freeze dried potatoes
they taste like feet, I’d rather have tomatoes

Now onto the Temple of the Moon
the final stop on our tour of ruins

In the temple, it was just like a cave
at night the moon shines through a little enclave

Down a winding hill we went
to Pachapapa’s Restaurant, where our lunch was spent

Some tried alpaca, others did not
the meat was quite tender and a bit hot

After lunch we took a break
phone calls or shopping time we’d take

At 4:30 it was back to Peter Frost
on the long way, no one got lost

Peter explained the past of Peru
all were hungry when he was through

Off to dinner we’d all go
the group was split, we were whelmed with woe

Photographers had a nice dinner out
Peruvian Italian, it was great no doubt

Archaeologists munched tapas with Peter
he helped them with their book, which was even sweeter

All were full after dinner
I’m sure none of us are any thinner

We’re having fun in Peru, happy and well fed
it’s 10 PM and we’re off to bed

Photos by Danielle Itin, Englewood NJ

National Geographic Expert Peter Frost
talking about Saqsaywaman's giant Inca stonework

Saqsaywaman handstand

Playing on a stone slide near Saqsaywaman

Walking through farmer's fields where we came across
potatoes in various stages of the freeze-drying process

Walking along an ancient Inca road back toward Cusco

Exploring Cusco with Peter Frost

2009-08-01T10:32:00.004-04:00

July 29 - Exploring Cusco with Peter Frost

Blog written by Gabriel Ruiz Blake, Puigpunyent, Illes Balears, Spain

After a breakfast of bread and jam we started our first day in Cusco. In the morning we got to explore the city in small groups to get a feel for the place. When we got back to our hostel we reviewed our photography work so far in critique during which we met Zac our videographer. After a lunch of tapas and sandwiches we met with our expert Peter Frost for a tour of 4 famous Cusquenian churches and the main Inca city sites. After our tour with Peter we went to our amazing salsa class where we learned the basics and got to dance with some natives who where very talented.

Después de un desayuno de pan y mermelada empezamos nuestro primer día en Cusco. Pudimos explorar la ciudad en grupos pequeños. Cuando regresamos al hostal miramos a nuestro trabajo hasta ahora mientras miráramos nuestro trabajo conocimos a a.C. nuestro videografo. Después de una comida de tapas y bocadillos nos reunimos con nuestro experto Peter Frost quien nos guió por 4 iglesias cuzqueñas. Cuando nos separamos de Peter fuimos a una clase donde aprendimos los pasos básicos y bailamos con unos cusquenos muy interesantes.

Plaza de Armas, Cusco
Photo by Forrest DiPaola, North Vancouver BC

Inside one of the temples in Qorikancha, this photo shows
the Inca love of precise stonework and trapezoidal windows
Photo by Forrest DiPaola

Peter taking the group through Qorikancha in central Cusco
Photo by Forrest DiPaola

View of Cusco
Photo by Saskia Taylor

Forrest, Katie and the rest of the group learning to salsa!
Photo by Saskia Taylor

Lares to Cusco

2009-07-30T09:50:00.004-04:00

July 28 – Lares to Cusco

Hello family and friends,

Today we spent most of the day in transit between our campsite at the hotsprings of Lares and our final destination at our hostal in Cusco. We woke up listening to locals who were already splashing in the hotsprings at 6:30!

After a peanut butter and banana pancake breakfast we set off on another long journey, this time by bus. After the hike yesterday it was nice to sit back and relax on our bus for morning. We stopped briefly in Pisac for an empanada lunch break before continuing on to Cusco.

Our hostal is located in the narrow alleys of Cusco's San Blas neighborhood, which made getting our luggage to our rooms a challenge, but the views from our rooms are definitely worth it. After taking some time to shower and settle in the group celebrated our arrival in Cusco with a big dinner before getting some well-deserved sleep. We’re looking forward to exploring Cusco with Peter Frost tomorrow.

Saludos,
Jordan and Lindsay

We woke up this morning at the hotsprings of Lares
Photo by expedition leader Lindsay Mackenzie

Well, most of us woke up (this is Jordan in his sleeping bag)
Photo by Lindsay Mackenzie

The valley view from the bus en route from Lares to Cusco
Photo by Lindsay Mackenzie

Cusco at night. . . this is the vista from our hostal
Photo by expedition leader Jordan Gantz

Let’s make like a llama and hike!

2009-07-30T09:34:00.007-04:00

July 27 – Let’s make like a llama and hike!
Blog written by Hannah Dunsirn, Menasha, WI

This morning we woke up at 5:00 a.m. to get ready for our big hike through the Andes. The brisk morning coupled with the high altitude made for a challenging start, however on the plus side, after four days of rain we were lucky to find the sun smiling at us. The hike was tough but we were fortunate to have six horses to help us out along the way. We began in the village of Patacancha and walked up through arid mountains spotted with llamas and alpacas and the occasional stone and straw village. Our lunch consisted of sandwiches and a stunning view of a high alpine lake. When reaching the top of Ipsakaya Pass we were greeted with snow at our feet. We can now say that we have experienced snow in July. With the high altitude, we were out of breath when we arrived at the top of the Pass at just under 15,000 ft! The rest of the trail down the mountain went quickly, we were all quite proud of ourselves for finishing the 7-hour trek.

Our bus picked us up in a small town called Wakawasi. From there we took an hour and a half drive to Lares. In Lares we set up camp at a set of natural hot springs. As soon as we set up camp we relaxed our tired muscles in the warm pools of water that lay within feet of our tents. After heating up in the hot springs we made noodles, beans, and rice. It was the perfect way to end the long journey.

Walking through the hills at the beginning of our hike
Photo by Felix Jordan from Cologne, Germany

The group taking a break to catch their breath in the high altitude
Photo by Felix Jordan

Llama lookout
Photo by Felix Jordan

Our guide and local contact, Miguel, taking a well deserved break
Photo by Felix Jordan

Traditional meets modern…
Photo by expedition leader Jordan Gantz

Summit shot! Celebrating everyone making it to 15,000 feet.
Photo by expedition leader Jordan Gantz

Pisac Market and Ruins

2009-07-30T09:13:00.009-04:00

July 26 – Pisac Market and Ruins
Blog written by Danielle Itin, Englewood, NJ

Today, the group got up early and drove to Pisac, famous for its huge Sunday market. The rolling mountains and farmland created a beautiful backdrop to the bus ride. We were welcomed into Pisac by a traditional Peruvian wedding taking place at the local church, and we got to experience some of the culture behind the celebration. After working on our On Assignment projects, we spread out in groups of three and four to put our negotiation skills to the test in the market.

The market was filled with bright colors and Peruvian patterns, along with persistent shopkeepers, whom we were encouraged to bargain with. Everyone loved being immersed in the culture and conversing with the locals, plus, buying loads of souvenirs. After a few hours spent at the marketplace, we got on the bus again and headed towards the ruins of Pisac. The ruins are the largest fortress-city-temple complex of the Incas. It was cold and windy but the ruins were great. After touring around them we headed back to Ollantaytambo.

In the evening everyone started packing, picking up laundry, and preparing for the hike the next day. Later we headed to Pachamama Grill to warm up with quinoa soup for dinner. It was the place where we ate our first dinner, and our last, in Ollantaytambo. The food was filling and good, and after we ate we picked up the pottery we made in town. We’re almost all packed and we’re excited to get started on our hike tomorrow!

Traditionally dressed local boys blowing conch shells in the huge Sunday Market in Pisac

Photo by Gabriel Ruiz Blake, Puigpunyent, Illes Balears, Spain

A bride and groom walking toward their wedding ceremony at a small local church

Photo by Gabriel Ruiz Blake

Friendly market greetings

Photo by Gabriel Ruiz Blake

Catherine emerges from a cave on one of the Inca roads inside the ruins of Pisac

Photo by Gabriel Ruiz Blake

Looking out over the ruins of Pisac

Photo by Gabriel Ruiz Blake

Some of the most precise and intricate Inca stonework

surrounds the Intiwatana or ‘hitching post of the sun’ in the ruins of Pisac

Photo by expedition leader Lindsay Mackenzie

The intermittent rain created a stunning rainbow that greeted us upon arrival at the ruins.

Photo by expedition leader Lindsay Mackenzie

Chinchero Textile Centre

2009-07-26T08:35:00.006-04:00

July 25th - Chinchero Textile Centre

Written by Kathleen Pait from Little Rock, AR

Today began with an hour long drive through beautiful, rolling hills of countryside and colorful farmland of rich greens, browns, oranges, and yellows, to reach Chinchero in order for the group to visit a textile center. We were able to watch demonstrations of alpaca and sheep wool spinning and were even lucky enough to participate in the traditional art of wool weaving.

The Chinchero Textile Center is a recipient of a National Geographic grant because it preserves and revives ancient cultural textile traditions. Both the Archeologists and Photographers were given assignments to document the process of creating textiles. We were then introduced to our first true traditional Peruvian meal which included cooked maiz, vegetables, soup, mixed tea, grains, and the very unique dish that only some of us were daring enough to try: Guinea pig.

We headed back to Ollantaytambo where the Photographers got to work on another assignment and the Archaeologists scouted the town to ask townspeople more about the local language called Quechua. We’re so excited to head to the Sunday market tomorrow to find some awesome souvenirs!

*A note from the expedition leaders: On Sunday we are headed to the market in Pisac before we begin our hike in the highlands on Monday, finishing up at a campsite at the hotsprings in Lares. It is likely that we will not be in touch with another blog update until Wednesday, July 29th from Cusco.

Until then!

-Lindsay and Jordan

Watching a master weaver at work at the textile centre in Chinchero
Photo by Jessie Ludin, Upperville, VA

One of the weavers helping Emma
Photo by Jessie Ludin, Upperville, VA

The Centre uses only natural products to create dyes for the wool, reviving ancient traditions in the process . Local plants, roots, flowers, minerals, and even dried, crushed insects are boiled and combined with fibers to create a wide array of natural colors. This photo show lichens used to create the brown color shown in the wool.
Photo by expedition leader Lindsay MacKenzie

Cuy or guinea pig - the centrepiece of our traditional highland lunch!
Photo by Jessie Ludin, Upperville, VA

Watching paragliders take off at a viewpoint above the town of Urubamba.

Photo by Jessie Ludin, Upperville, VA

Rainy Day Rearrangements!

2009-07-26T08:28:00.005-04:00

July 24 – Rainy Day Rearrangements!

Written by Forrest DiPaola, North Vancouver, BC

Today we awoke to cool temperatures, rain, and mist; something the locals tell us is very rare for this time of year. We had planned to spend today helping out in a small highland community, making mud bricks and picking potatoes, but neither of these activities were possible in the rain. Instead of working on the farm we took advantage of the time inside to continue with on our On Assignment projects. Photography students critiqued their recent assignments while the Archaeology students started to work on their final project – creating a guidebook to the Inca Empire.

We had a leisurely lunch at a cafe that donates its profits to children who are in poverty. After lunch we went to pottery shop to make bowls or cups with clay. After the potter gave us a short demonstration we attempted to make something ourselves. Most of us needed some help to shape the clay and some of us needed a lot of help! He also showed us how the Inca polished clay with smooth stones from the river.

After finishing our bowls and cups we had free time for the first time in two days. Many of us went shopping or sent emails to friends and family. In the evening we had takeout pizza and went back to photo critiquing or working on our book. Many of us headed to bed right after working on our On Assignment projects.

Photos below by Kaia DeBruin, Port Washington, NY

Kathleen and Jesse huddle for warmth in the hostal

Eduardo the ceramics teacher demonstrating how to make clay pots

Students attempting to follow Eduardo´s instructions

Ceramics scene

Evening photography critique at the hostal

Ollanta Ruins, Moray, and Salineras

2009-07-26T08:17:00.006-04:00

July 23 – Ollanta Ruins, Moray, and Salineras

Written by Marya Mayne, Sioux City, IA

Today was a very eventful day in and out of Ollantayambo. We started out the morning in the Ollanta ruins guided by Peter Frost, our National Geographic expert. We hiked up to the top of the ruins where we were awed by the view of the town on one side and beautiful mountains on the other. We learned from Peter that most of the stones from the site were from a quarry over four miles away and that some of the stones may have been used at other sites before coming to Ollantayambo. Though Peter knew a great deal about the site, it was also interesting to discover that there are still many unsolved mysteries about the history of the ruins.

After the tour of the ruins, Peter showed us around town and took us into a local home whose architecture has not changed since the Inca era. Inside, a woman had brewed chicha, a traditional fermented corn beverage that also hasn’t changed much since Inca times. Strictly for educational purposes, Peter indulged in a glass of the frothy drink.

After lunch we headed to Moray, where instead of building terraces on the side of a hill, terraces were built on the walls of a depression in a circular shape. Some speculate that the Inca may have experimented with different agriculture growing techniques due to the microclimates created by the unique terracing.

Next, we headed to Salineras, an ancient salt mine in the mountains. But before we reached our destination, we had the opportunity to take pictures and observe a local family herding sheep and cattle. We were all in awe of the beauty of the mountains and excited at the opportunity to take pictures so up close and personal with locals and their herd. We made it to the salt mines before sundown and got to explore – and in some cases taste – the awesomeness that was Salineras. After this long day we were all pretty tired so we headed to one of our favorite places in town to enjoy some great burritos and then back to the hostel for a well deserved night of sleep.

Taking in the view of the highlands above Ollantaytambo
Photo by Ridgely Gaier, Indian River Shores, FL

NG Expert Peter Frost taking the group through the mysterious Inca ruins above Ollanta

Photo by Ridgely Gaier, Indian River Shores, FL

Inca-era agricultural terraces of Moray

Photo by Ridgely Gaier, Indian River Shores, FL

The salt ponds of Salineras
Photo by Ridgely Gaier, Indian River Shores, FL

Another view of the highlands above Ollanta

Photo by Hannah Dunsirn from Menasha, WI

Chatting with locals workers from Salineras-- we gave them a ride
up the hill to the main road to save them an hour walk!
Photo by Expedition Leader Jordan Gantz

The group poses during a stop in the highlands
Photo by Expedition Leader Jordan Gantz

2009-07-23T15:20:00.005-04:00

This blog is written by Alexa Garant from Tecumseh, Ontario.

We awoke bright and early to prepare for our first group hike. By 7:30 am we began our exploration of the plentiful Incan ruins that surround the beautiful valley of Ollantaytambo. The tedious trek upwards led us to a surreal view of the town and valley while enabling us to get an up-close look at the ruins we saw from below. The group ventured through ancient Incan storage houses while absorbing the amazing view. After an eventful morning, we returned to the hostal for lunch and a comedic group activity acting out episodes of Inca history. Shortly after, we were joined by National Geographic Expert Peter Frost as well as a traditional Andean shaman and his family. The shaman blessed our group on our journey by presenting an offering, which contained an eclectic assortment of items such as herbs, llama fat, candy wafers, and cocoa leaves. Later that evening, Peter Frost presented the group with a brief history of the Inca and pre-Incan empires before dinner. We had a tasty meal at a local restaurant before heading back to the Hostal for a good night’s sleep.

Photos below are by Katie Lohman from Sedro-Woolley, Washington

Enjoying the view on our morning hike.

Exploring Inca agricultural storehouses perched high above the town of Ollantaytambo

A traditional Andean shaman adds items to the pago or offering for
Pachamama (Earth Mother) while his wife watches in the background.

At the end of the ceremony the pago was burnt over a small fire

Students acting out Inca historical skits. Alexa Garant
commentates whileHannah Dunsirn acts as Atahualpa,
the victor in the pre-conquest Inca civil war.

Rafting on the Urubamba River

2009-07-23T12:55:00.006-04:00

*This blog is written by student Catherine Ake

This morning we started off with a white water rafting trip down the Urubamba River. It was a beautiful ride through the mountains, with Incan ruins on both banks. It was awesome to know that we were riding down a tributary of the Amazon River. Before the trip, we helped some local Peruvian women shuck corn. It was fun to help them, and neat to see all of the different colors and varieties. The trip ended with a picnic lunch overlooking the river and the snow capped Andes.

After browsing through the town, the afternoon picked up again with a game of yoga ball soccer with some locals. Yoga ball soccer differs from the traditional game by substituting two large yoga balls in place of a standard soccer ball. Each ball is worth different points according to its size; the bigger the ball the more points it is worth. The field was surrounded by mountains and gave a dramatic backdrop to our intense match. After two of our yoga balls popped, we ended the game, and played ultimate frisbee with some American volunteers that we met on the field. By the time that we finished, our lungs felt like they were going to burst due to the high altitude and lack of oxygen. (About 9,000 feet!!) We ended the day with a huge pizza feast and an evening stargazing and storytelling session.

Photo by Saskia Taylor

Photo by Lindsay Mackenzie

Saludos from Ollantaytambo

2009-07-21T13:33:00.006-04:00

This blog is written by student Kathleen Pait from Little Rock, AR.

Monday, July 20th

After waking up at 8 o’clock to the cool, dry mountain air, we enjoyed a delicious breakfast of bread and jam, fruit, coffee, and pineapple juice. We then headed over to a local museum to learn about the history of Ollantaytambo and the Inca ruins that overlook the Sacred Valley like protective guardians. They seem to sprout out of the surrounding mountains like weeds from a garden. We left the museum to walk the streets of the town, taking peeks into local houses, conversing with the indigenous peoples, and taking our first true samples of the culture.

Our group leaders then sent us on a scavenger hunt around town. We split up into groups of three or four and hustled around to gather the items we had been assigned to find. For lunch we ate at a small local, non-profit café. All proceeds the café makes go to helping the children and women in small highland communities of the Sacred Valley. Some group members donated warm clothing and children´s books to the NGO director. We were touched by her gratitude for such small donations.

After lunch, we divided up into our On Assignments groups to learn about our projects and get an idea of what we would be doing for the next few weeks. We also had some time to explore the town on our own, practice our Spanish with the locals, and browse through the markets before dinner, which was also at a small local restaurant. To wrap up the night, the group gathered together for a short pow-wow back at the hostal before watching a National Geographic movie about the archaeological excavations we visited on our first day in Lima. It was a full first day in Ollanta!

Photos below by student, Felix Jordan from Cologne, Germany.

View of Ollanta´s famous ruins from the roof of the CATCO museum

Traditionally dressed local women pose in Ollanta´s Inca-era streets

A collection of artifacts inside a local home

Finding exotic fruits during our scavenger hunt at the local market

working in On Assignment groups on photography focus techniques

Landing in Lima

2009-07-21T13:29:00.008-04:00

Post written on Saturday, July 18

After meeting in Miami, the group arrived in Peru early on Saturday morning. The capital of the most archaeologically rich country in South America, Lima, was a great place to get an initial glimpse of the depth and diversity of Peru´s ancient cultures, and there was no better person to introduce us to this topic than National Geographic Archaeologist Guillermo Cock.

Willy has worked extensively with Inca mummies, directing a team that excavated an Inca burial site called Puruchuco. Situated on the rapidly developing outskirts of Lima, Puruchuco is the largest Inca burial site ever discovered - in total, over 1769 intact mummies have been found there! Willy showed us around Puruchuco, telling us about what they discovered from the excavations. One of the most interesting finds were skeletons of people who had been killed by European weapons, the first casualties of the Spanish Conquest ever discovered. Willy also showed us around the remains of a coastal Inca Palace and its small museum. It was an exciting introduction to our expedition!

In the afternoon we had a short siesta and then spent the remainder of the day with a local guide at the fascinating private collection in the Museo Rafael Larco Herrera, home to some of the most famous and well preserved artifacts of Peru´s many ancient cultures.

Tomorrow we head to the Sacred Valley to our home base of Ollantaytambo. We are excited to get there and get settled in.

More soon,
Lindsay and Jordan

Archaeologist Guillermo Cock with the group at the ruins of an
Inca Palace in Puruchuco, Lima (photo by Jordan).

The Inca Palace is one of the only remaining examples of
coastal Inca architecture (photo by Lindsay).

The group has arrived

2009-07-18T23:26:00.001-04:00

We've received word from the expedition leaders that the group has arrived in Lima.

Meet the Expedition Leaders

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2009 Peru B Expedition Leaders, Jordan Gantz and Lindsay Mackenzie

Photography
Jordan Gantz. University of Wisconsin, B.A. Jordan is an accomplished photographer, filmmaker, and strategic communications specialist. He majored in Psychology at the University of Wisconsin and spent his junior year in Seville, Spain. He has traveled extensively in Europe, Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Jordan spent two and half years as a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer in El Salvador where he worked with local communities on health, environment, and information technology projects. Jordan currently works for Chemonics International, a Washington, D.C.-based international development organization, where he uses photography and film to promote the work of the company throughout the developing world. With Chemonics he has led numerous photography, film, and communications assignments in Jordan, Egypt, Nigeria, the West Bank, and numerous countries in Latin America. Jordan co-led a Putney Student Travel community service program to the Dominican Republic in 2005, and a National Geographic Student Expedition to India in 2008.

Archaeology & Ancient Culture
Lindsay Mackenzie. Colgate University, B.A. Lindsay graduated magna cum laude from Colgate, where she majored in Geography and studied abroad in Geneva, Switzerland. She received the Peter Gould Award in her major discipline, was a member of the Konosioni Senior Honor Society, and earned Distinction in the Liberal Arts core curriculum. Lindsay worked as a reporter for the Pique newsmagazine in Whistler, British Columbia, served as the Kosovo logistics coordinator for the Balkans Peace Park project, and worked as a research assistant at the Centre for International Relations (CIR) at the University of British Columbia. In 2005 and 2006 she was awarded a year-long Thomas J. Watson Fellowship to explore transboundary conservation and development issues in Europe, the Middle East, Southern Africa, and Central America. For the past two years Lindsay has worked as a Tour Leader for Adventures Abroad Worldwide Travel Ltd. In this capacity she has led groups of adventurous travelers on cultural tours in locations around the world, including Italy, Croatia, Montenegro, Malta, Romania, Bulgaria, Australia, New Zealand, Iran, and Brazil. She has explored some of the world’s richest archaeological zones, including Rome, Sicily, Petra, Persepolis and Chichen Itzá. Lindsay is a talented photographer. She is proficient in Spanish.

Welcome!

2009-06-01T11:41:00.000-04:00

Welcome family and friends of National Geographic Student Expeditions participants!

We have created this blog in order to keep you updated on the progress of your child’s National Geographic Student Expedition this summer. We hope that occasional updates throughout the expedition will help keep you informed about the activities, projects and successes of the program.

The expedition leaders will post entries approximately once per week during the program. The leaders’ first priority is the students and the program. If updates are infrequent, it is likely due to the group’s very busy schedule and inconsistent internet access. Please know that any important issues that arise during the program will be discussed and resolved with leaders and parents by phone, not through the blog.

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Best wishes from us all at National Geographic Student Expeditions