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Andrys Basten | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> PERU photos - Highlands tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

PERU photos - Highlands

From my PhotoDiary of a trip to the HIGHLANDS of PERU in 1997

This included the "White City" of Arequipa (built from volcanic stone sillar) of Arequipa, with its Santa Catalina Monastery; Colca Canyon and the its valleys and terraced hills; Islands of the Uros; Lake Titicaca; Taquile Island; the Sacred Valley and Ollantaytambo with its beautiful stonework; Puno train-ride; and Sillustani with its chullpas.

Camera: Canon Elph 2 APS-film (Analog)

These are scanned from 4x6 prints, using an HP4C scanner (1997).

Pictures from the MACHU PICCHU portion are in their own travel folder at PBase.

If you'd like to read more details of the trip, please drop by.

( For full Screen: If using a PC, press/toggle F11. If using a Mac, press/toggle apple/command-b )
Colca Canyon, Arequipa  (no railings, as usual, which is good
Colca Canyon, Arequipa (no railings, as usual, which is good
Condor with 10-foot wing span enjoying the morning exercise
Condor Pass

Condor with 10-foot wing span enjoying the morning exercise

Man taking in the beautiful vista there,
Man taking in the beautiful vista there,
Fruit vendors at Condor Pass
Fruit vendors at Condor Pass
Some caught a lift with us
Some caught a lift with us
Fruit vendor across from the first group
Fruit vendor across from the first group
Colca Canyon Valley.  Click for original larger size.
Colca Canyon Valley. Click for original larger size.
Terracing for miles
Terracing for miles
From an earthquake?
From an earthquake?
Indian town in the valley on the left
Indian town in the valley on the left
I was in a bus that took some of us through Ollantaytambo, or the Sacred Valley, when 
I saw this woman and was amazed by her beautiful clothing.
From a window of our van

I was in a bus that took some of us through Ollantaytambo, or the Sacred Valley, when
I saw this woman and was amazed by her beautiful clothing.

I shot this photo of her through the window.  This incompletely framed image was scanned 
from a 4x6 print from an APS film Elph camera.
Beautiful color and a glimpse of one eye ;-)

I shot this photo of her through the window. This incompletely framed image was scanned
from a 4x6 print from an APS film Elph camera.

That's a real bird.  Eagle ?
That's a real bird. Eagle ?
-I- wouldn't have done this without a hat.!
-I- wouldn't have done this without a hat.!
These are our excellent Hada Tour guide Yudy 
and Hada driver Raoul (Raoul was also very 
helpful, with good info).  We all had a 
great picnic-lunch outside a cave of 
ancient paintings in a very remote, 
eerily quiet, hilly area of Colca Canyon.
11,000-12,000 ft above sea level here. The lungs can feel it.

These are our excellent Hada Tour guide Yudy
and Hada driver Raoul (Raoul was also very
helpful, with good info). We all had a
great picnic-lunch outside a cave of
ancient paintings in a very remote,
eerily quiet, hilly area of Colca Canyon.

Church in Arequipa City
Church in Arequipa City
Arequipa's Santa Catalina Monastery
Arequipa's Santa Catalina "Monastery"
400 yr old square-block convent,  Translation at my PhotoDiary.
400 yr old square-block convent, Translation at my PhotoDiary.
The nuns were daughters of the well-to-do
The nuns were daughters of the well-to-do
Many nuns' homes had private courtyards.
Many nuns' homes had private courtyards.
For more re the nuns' lifestyleclick here for my trip report.
For more re the nuns' lifestyle
click here for my trip report.
View from one of the personal courtyards
View from one of the personal courtyards
Very spare in windows!  Beautiful color
Very spare in windows! Beautiful color
Puno - a trip to visit The Uros
Puno - a trip to visit The Uros
For what life is like on the islands, be sure to read Miranda France's fantastic article
on life on the islands, directly-linked at my PhotoDiary UROS page...
Floating home built on and from straw

For what life is like on the islands, be sure to read Miranda France's fantastic article
on life on the islands, directly-linked at my PhotoDiary UROS page...

4 hours each way, no restroom aboard
4 hours each way, no restroom aboard
Uros Islands
Uros Islands
See a superb report  on life here.
(This pic was bought for a KLM flight magazine featuring 'Homes' around the world.)
Life on the Island (see link to an excellent report).

See a superb report on life here.
(This pic was bought for a KLM flight magazine featuring 'Homes' around the world.)

I saw a recent picture showing the same scene, a little girl dressed almost 
exactly like that, holding a stick.  But 7 years later.
Recreation on the islands.

I saw a recent picture showing the same scene, a little girl dressed almost
exactly like that, holding a stick. But 7 years later.

This bird kept coming after me when it saw me shooting.
This bird kept coming after me when it saw me shooting.
If interested in what life is like on the islands, do read Miranda France's fantastic article
on life on the islands, directly-linked at my photodiary UROS page...
Life there is supported by sales to tourists.

If interested in what life is like on the islands, do read Miranda France's fantastic article
on life on the islands, directly-linked at my photodiary UROS page...

Leaving for Taquile Island !
Leaving for Taquile Island !
22 people on this motor boat w/o a restroom
Approaching Taquile Island

22 people on this motor boat w/o a restroom

On the middle of the highest navigable lake in the world, Taquile Island has kept its 
old ways, partially because it draws tourist money.  But they gather around 
the one tv with antenna there (in 1997).
Arrival at Taquile Island, where there is no electricity but there is clear air and water.

On the middle of the highest navigable lake in the world, Taquile Island has kept its
old ways, partially because it draws tourist money. But they gather around
the one tv with antenna there (in 1997).

 A wee guide to the island (about 10-12 years old)
A wee guide to the island (about 10-12 years old)
This was arduous at 13,000 ft on a warm day, with even young people who had
gone up the easier back way, complaining about going down the steps.
500 steps up, with a dinner as reward above

This was arduous at 13,000 ft on a warm day, with even young people who had
gone up the easier back way, complaining about going down the steps.

This is what it felt like, going up in the sun at12,500 ft above sea level.
This is what it felt like, going up in the sun at
12,500 ft above sea level.
Local women on their daily chores
Local women on their daily chores
Looking down on the lake while going up the 500+ steps.
Looking down on the lake while going up the 500+ steps.
That clothing includes knitted hats and some color coding, for marital status, in the 
tufts on their hats.  Suspenders seem to be common.
The men of Taquile with their distinctive garb

That clothing includes knitted hats and some color coding, for marital status, in the
tufts on their hats.  Suspenders seem to be common.

Gorgeous view from the first or second level ofthree to get to the very top of the island.
Gorgeous view from the first or second level of
three to get to the very top of the island.
For a fascinating article on life on Taquile Island, see Linda Monahan's report.
Men knit their own caps, jackets

For a fascinating article on life on Taquile Island, see Linda Monahan's report.

A woman doing her work in a good job location
A woman doing her work in a good job location
The group is less carefree looking at the end of this trip to Taquile Island
 - 4 hrs each way on the water, via a motor boat that carried 22 people.

   The lake is the highest navigable lake, and the sun's rays are very strong.  
  But it's also very cold in May after the sun goes down.
Taq11.jpg- The colder air upon 4-hour return to Puno

The group is less carefree looking at the end of this trip to Taquile Island
- 4 hrs each way on the water, via a motor boat that carried 22 people.

  The lake is the highest navigable lake, and the sun's rays are very strong.
  But it's also very cold in May after the sun goes down.



CUSCO area - on our entry ticket
CUSCO area - on our entry ticket
Visiting The Sacred Valley
Visiting The Sacred Valley
The Sacred Valley:one of the stock shots you'll see from us visitors.
The Sacred Valley:
one of the stock shots you'll see from us visitors.
Approaching Pisac Market
Approaching Pisac Market
Pisac Market
Pisac Market
 I've seen them in other visitor photos!
I've seen them in other visitor photos!
The Pisac Market family regulars
The Pisac Market family regulars
Pisac Market tents and weeping wllow tree, I think
Pisac Market tents and weeping wllow tree, I think
Pisac Market: unloading with gorgeous hill formations behind
Pisac Market: unloading with gorgeous hill formations behind
Pisac Market, keeping the tents supplied
Pisac Market, keeping the tents supplied
Ollantaytambo's familiar rock hill,with face-form on it.
Ollantaytambo's familiar rock hill,
with face-form on it.
New explanations for this can be read at my Peru  PhotoDiary page,the format of which allows more detail.
You can also see it in context there.
Closer look at face-like form on the mountain rock

New explanations for this can be read at my Peru PhotoDiary page,
the format of which allows more detail.
You can also see it in context there.

Stairs to fortress and sacred temple
Stairs to fortress and sacred temple
Ollantaytambo steps to fortress remains, top left
Ollantaytambo steps to fortress remains, top left
City of Ollantaytambo below.
Ollantaytambo: near top. We're walking toward a portal.

City of Ollantaytambo below.

After walking thru' the portal, we see area to the right.
After walking thru' the portal, we see area to the right.
This gal appeared at the top as I looked up.
This gal appeared at the top as I looked up.
City of Ollantaytambo and path to portal below.
Foundations of fortress / temple near top

City of Ollantaytambo and path to portal below.

Ollantaytambo: beautiful stonework
Ollantaytambo: beautiful stonework
To this day, no one is sure how they did this.  And stones were brought up
from a quarry below and across a river.  Some about 30 tons.
Stonework: no mortar used.

To this day, no one is sure how they did this. And stones were brought up
from a quarry below and across a river. Some about 30 tons.

Note the method by which they're all connected to the next piece.
Ollantaytambo: Temple / Fortress remains

Note the method by which they're all connected to the next piece.

Near the entrance-exit, the interior of a resting place.
Near the entrance-exit, the interior of a resting place.
Again, looking up steps of Ollantaytambo fortress area
Again, looking up steps of Ollantaytambo fortress area
A fountain right outside the resting spot a few shots back
A fountain right outside the resting spot a few shots back
Gold Dusk in The Sacred Valley
Gold Dusk in The Sacred Valley
Another view at dusk in The Sacred Valley
Another view at dusk in The Sacred Valley
From a moving train
The Sacred Valley - mountains behind farmed land


From a moving train


Sillustani - tombs of different styles and subcultures
Sillustani - tombs of different styles and subcultures
The lake at Sillustani
The lake at Sillustani
Sillustani - Sheep below a picturesque tomb
Sillustani - Sheep below a picturesque tomb
Sillustani sheep again
Sillustani sheep again
Sillustani - top of smaller tomb, with lake behind
Sillustani - top of smaller tomb, with lake behind
Chullpas are circular vertical burial places
Sillustani lake and striking tomb (chullpa)

Chullpas are circular vertical burial places

Sillustani: Our guide Jesus explaining features of the chullpa
Sillustani: Our guide Jesus explaining features of the chullpa
The children were holding up signs.  I loved the bonnet on the baby and the typical bowler
hat (in Puno) on the woman at top right.
Leaving Puno. Photos from window of train to Cusco

The children were holding up signs.  I loved the bonnet on the baby and the typical bowler
hat (in Puno) on the woman at top right.

Puno: it was a celebration day.  Taken from train window.
Puno: it was a celebration day.  Taken from train window.
From the train, in motion.  Quite a few scenes like this, throughout the bumpy ride.
Train from Puno to Cuzco

From the train, in motion. Quite a few scenes like this, throughout the bumpy ride.

We experienced a disquieting rock through the window on this ride.
From window of train to Cusco

We experienced a disquieting rock through the window on this ride.

Still on the train but at a stop, was struck by this rural scene
Still on the train but at a stop, was struck by this rural scene
During stop on way to Cuzco: detail from previous photo
During stop on way to Cuzco: detail from previous photo
During another train stop - items for sale
During another train stop - items for sale
From train: nearing Machu Picchu
From train: nearing Machu Picchu