Peru: Through the Eyes of our Women

Transcription

1 Peru: Through the Eyes of our Women

2 Peru: Through the Eyes of our Women A couple of moons ago, COLTUR presented its PERU: THROUGH THE EYES OF OUR WOMEN program, specially designed for female travelers interested in learning about Peruvian history through the eyes of its women. In September I had the pleasure of accompanying one of our women groups during their stay in Peru. The following pages are testimony to the incredible journey of discovery our guests, and myself, experienced. Enrique M. Velasco Director - Sales COLTUR Peru

3 LIMA...the idea that women played only unimportant roles in the organization of power and in ritual and ceremonial systems was based on an erroneous interpretation of the evidence. This interpretation was shaken suddenly in 1991, when excavations at San José de Moro revealed the first tombs of Moche priestesses - Archaeologist Luis F Castillo

4 Lima The adventure started at THE LARCO HERRERA MUSEUM, where we were gracefully hosted by its head curator, Ulla Holmquist. An archaeologist from Peru s Universidad Católica and MA in Museum Studies from New York University, Ulla is not only the Chief Curator of the museum, but also a university professor and lecturer on topics related to the role of women in pre-columbian Peru. Perhaps the highest exponent of colonial art in Latin America is the Peruvian School. A blend of two millenary cultural traditions, Andean and European, it is extraordinarily represented in the BARBOSA-STERN COLLECTION, founded by Silvia Stern and her late husband Eduardo Barbosa Silvia Stern was born in Peru to German - Jewish immigrants. The Stern s had an inclination for science, which influenced Silvia to choose Mathematics upon entering university. However, art and humanities had quite a draw on her, which resulted in Silvia obtaining a second degree on Art Restoration.

5 URUBAMBA SACRED VALLEY

6 Urubamba Sacred Valley On our way from Cuzco to the Urubamba Sacred Valley, we stopped at NILDA CAÑALLAUPA s workshop. A child prodigy that by age 15 was lecturing at the Smithsonian Institute and Harvard University, Nilda runs at NatGeo-sponsored project dedicated to preserving the high Andes millenary weaving techniques. Nilda gracefully provided an intimate look at her life-story, the challenges surrounding her efforts, and how several Andean communities have benefitted from such. To visit the native community of Cuyuni (featured below ) is to literally travel back in time. Here, natives are, in many ways, still living as they ve been doing for centuries. The proud villagers taught guests how they have managed to tame nature and survive in extremely adverse conditions: at over 13,000 ft above sea level, only wild grass grows naturally. Community leaders accompanied the group as we learnt not only about their daily activities, but also experienced ancestral traditions that date to pre-inca times.

7 MACHU PICCHU

8 Machu Picchu The group s visit to Machu Picchu was lead by anthroplogist Jean Jacques Decoster, who masterfully guided us throug the citadel pairing facts about it within the context and history of what we now know as the Inca Empire. Jean Jacques, an Anthropology PhD from Cornell, has been living in the Andes for over 20 years and is not only a university professor but also the director of Cuzco s CASA CONCHA MUSEUM, which houses all the archaeological material taken to the US by Hiram Bingham in the early 1900 s and recently returned by Yale University. Those snow-capped peaks in an unknown and unexplored part of Peru fascinated me greatly. They tempted me to go and see what lay beyond. In the ever famous words of Rudyard Kipling there was something hidden! Go find it! Go and look beyond the ranges something lost beyond the ranges. Lost and waiting for you. Go! Hiram Bingham

9 LAKE TITICACA LARCO HERRERA MUSEUM - LIMA COLTUR PERU

10 Lake Titicaca A soothing two and a half hour boat ride separates Puno from Suasi island. The first of the two included stops was at one at one of the 50-plus Uros islands located on the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca. We thus entered the world of the Aymaras, an ethnic group that populates Southeastern Peru and Northwestern Bolivia. Our next visit was to the island of Taquile, actually one of the last locations in Peru to capitulate during the Spanish conquest. Here we were met by one of the native families, who shared with us their traditions and customs.

11 SUASI ISLAND PHOTO: WALTER WUST

12 Suasi Island After being treated to an exquisite Andean BBQ lunch upon arrival, we all rested for a bit before heading towards Mount Itapilluni to witness the sheer magnificence of a sunset over Lake Titicaca (see previous page) During our second day part of the group took it very easy and relaxed on the lush gardens of the hotel, while others took a more adventurous approach and kayaked and canoed around the island, returning just in time to help the locals herd the alpacas back to their barn. A private island where the only edification is Casa Andina s Private Collection lodge, Suasi island is, indisputably, one of the best, if not the best, ways to end a trip to Peru. The 25-room lodge boasts what I would call rustic elegance, fitting perfectly into the environment and providing an almost magical sense of place.

13 PROGRAM DETAILS Peru Through the Eyes of our Women Day 01: Arrival to LIMA - Greet upon arrival and transfer to hotel. - Overnight in Lima. Day 02: LIMA - Buffet breakfast - AM at leisure (as flights from the US arrive late at night) - PM Larco Herrera Museum and Barbosa-Stern private collection - Dinner at LA HUACA PUCLLANA restaurant - Greet upon arrival and transfer to hotel. - Overnight in Lima. B, D Day 03: LIMA CUZCO - URUBAMBA SACRED VALLEY - Buffet breakfast. - Transfer to the airport and assistance with flight. - Flight to Cuzco. - Greet upon arrival and transfer to the Urubamba Sacred Valley - Visit Nilda Cañallaupa s native weaving project - Gourmet picnic lunch icluding Andean religious ritual Tribute to the Mother Earth - Overnight in Urubamba B, L Day 04: URUBAMBA SACRED VALLEY - Buffet breakfast. - Full-day Cuyuni native community - Lunch included - Overnight in Urubamba B, L Day 05: URUBAMBA SACRED VALLEY-MACHU PICCHU - Buffet breakfast. - Transfer to train station and VISTADOME train to Machu Picchu. - Guided tour of the Machu Picchu citadel by anthropologist JJ Decoster - Buffet lunch included - Dinner and overnight in Machu Picchu (Aguas Calientes) B, L, D. Day 06: MACHU PICCHU - CUZCO - Buffet breakfast. - Second visit to Machu Picchu included - VISTADOME train to Cuzco - Greet at train station and transfer to hotel - Overnight in Cuzco B DAY 07: CUZCO - Buffet breakfast. - Mid AM Cuzco City Tour. 1. San Pedro market 2. Korikancha or Temple of the Sun. 3. Cathedral. 4. Sacsayhuaman - Group dinner at BACCO restaurant - Overnight in Cuzco. B, D DAY 08: CUZCO - PUNO - Buffet breakfast. - Transfer to the train station and assistance. - Orient Express ANDEAN EXPLORER train to Puno - Lunch on board - Arrive to Puno and transfer to hotel - Overnight in Puno B, L

14 PROGRAM DETAILS (continued) Day 09: PUNO - SUASI ISLAND - Buffet breakfast - Boat transfer to Suasi island - On route visit the Uros and Taquile islands - Arrive to Suasi island and Andean BBQ lunch - PM and evening activities on the island - Dinner at the hotel - Overnight in Suasi island B, L, D Day 10: SUASI ISLAND - Buffet breakfast - AM, PM and evening activities - Lunch and dinner at hotel - Overnight in Suasi island B, L, D Day 11: SUASI ISLND - PUNO - LIMA - USA - Buffet breakfast. - AM activities - Boat transfer to Puno (box lunch included) - Arrive to Puno, transfer to the airport and assistance - Flight to Lima - Greet upon arrival and assistance with connecting flight - Flight to the US B, Bx L

15 Av. Reducto 1255 Miraflores Lima 18 PERU Phone : (51-1) hrs. (51-1) Fax : (51-1) Fax : (51-1) peru@colturperu.com All photographic material contained in this document property of COLTUR Peru