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1994
Peru (North) - South America
Bec2004-09-20 16:29:15
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Cuzco. In between the citadels and elsewhere in the city, are large areas of dwellings, irrigated areas, and cemeteries.
It was Christmas eve when I visited Chan Chan and the place was completely deserted except for Maria and Christina Diaz Arellano who were visiting with their uncle Aristides who told me that he was glad to have another man along because the ruins were not safe for isolated visitors. They were pleasant company and later showed me the beach at Huanchaco.
We paid particular attention to the Tschudi citadel for which the girls had a map. Here is one of the labyrinth like corridors separating the various parts of the citadel.
The northern part had this very large ceremonial square and several smaller courts leading to densely built areas filled with small rooms. The central part had a smaller entrance square leading to several courts occupied by storerooms. The southern part was an open area with a large reservoir and a great burial platform.
Huanchaco
Archaeologists will tell you these reed boats called caballitos (small horses), are identical to those used by Moche fishermen 2500 years ago.
Huaca del Sol
My Peruvian friends had warned me against visiting this Moche pyramid alone, but they could not come on Christmas day so I had to go by myself.
I would have loved to climb all over and explore these 2500 year old clay monuments. The mouths of tunnels that huaqueros (grave robbers), had dug to reach the internal rooms of the Huaca de la Luna were particularly tempting but I prudently stayed out in the open where I could see anyone approaching from a distance.
I enjoyed my visit and marvelled how mud bricks could have lasted so long (it does not rain), but I did not linger. Only the next day did I realise that my apprehension had been without basis because, in this country, everyone would
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See photographs from:
Peru Gallery
