Monday August 5th and the road trip to Incallajta:

Monday August 5^th and the road trip to Incallajta:  Lacking our own vehicle, for months, Mom has been trying to get either Pres. Crayk or Pres. Dyer to take her to visit the ruins at Incallajta.  The Fundacion had planned to have a concert in Tortora on Sunday.  Tortora is about 1 hour past the turn off to the ruins.  Mom had convinced the Hoopes that they wanted to take us to the concert in Tortora on Sunday and then we would find a place to stay over and on Monday we would visit the ruins.  Saturday night they cancelled the concert in Tortora.  But mom was undaunted by this development and convinced not only the Hoopes, but also Sister Dyer that Monday was still a good day to go to the ruins.  So Monday morning at 7:00am we headed out.  The Dyer’s invited the Hurst’s and mom and I rode with the Hoopes.  We also invited Ruby, Brother Tudela’s daughter,  who is studying tourism to come as our guide.  It took us a little over 3 hours to get to the ruins.  The ruins are about 15 miles off the paved road on a cobbled stone road.  We walked around the ruins for about 2 and ½ hours.  This was the edge of the Inca Empire on the southeast and was a large fortified outpost.  It was very fun and interesting.  We got home and we were all hungry, so we all went to dinner.  I know, all we do is eat.

The wall of the Kallanka.  This was a huge rectangular building,  the largest known roofed structure built by the Incas.  Notice the wall niches--44 in all.

This is the end wall of the Kallanka, which had a thatched roof. 

You can see the dimensions of the Kallanka--it was HUGE.  It is suggested that it was used for public or administrative meetings or even as a theater.

The canopy is covering a section of the wall of the Kallanka which still has some of the red plaster covering the stones.  This was common in Incan buildings.

This is a link: Incallajta, Bolivia

The Kallanka.  The roped area shows where there were pillars erected that helped support the roof.

The long niches in the walls were thought to hold idols.

Coming down the trail behind the administrative buildings.  Incallajta was built in two phases by the Inca.  First as a fortress and military outpost and then as an administrative site on the eastern frontier of their empire.

There have been times mom has wanted to sacrifice me.

The face of the invader!

Hiking back up from the waterfall.  We appreciated the newly constructed handrail.  From top:  Dawn Hurst, Ruby Tudela, Eldon Hurst, Lorna and Jack Hoopes, Christy Dyer, Mom and Pres. Dyer.

Looking back on the waterfall.

Somebody is taking a rest.

The walls of some of the buildings.

These ruins are built in a small valley, surrounded by mountains.  People still live and farm here, using irrigation.

These are thought to be residential areas on the site.

Almost back to the cars.

Not too many days old.

Local woman  taking her cow to pasture

They still plow by oxen and wood plow.

This girl is mashing chuno to loosen the outer peel.  This is a small potato that is peeled and "freeze-dried" in the open air.  It allowed the people preserve food and is still eaten today.

Here are the ladies peeling the potatoes.  You can see them laid out on the blue tarp on the right so that they will dehydrate.

Dinner, finally we get to eat.