At the Ruins

On Sunday we arrived at the Incan Ruins after getting mired in the drainage ditch. We were breathless again and only discovered later that the area is also at 13 000 feet. It's hard to imagine Incan life as it was in the 1500s with the little that remains. But one photo shows the Temple of the Sun that marked the four solstices for crop planting and harvesting.







The Temple of the Sun. The building had just the centre hole to let light into the blackened room. The shaft of light measured the four soltices. Ecuador, named for being at the Equator, has two plantings for some crops.







The ruins.





A corn grinding morter and pestle.





The replica of an Incan home. It windowless because of the fierce winds.






A stone used to measure season. The stones on the right marked a Canari tomb. The Canaris preceded the Incas and after a 10 year battle remained undefeated. So the two civiliations joined forces. But they didn't life happily ever after because 100 years later the Spaniards arrived and demolished the people and their temples.






The ruler walked on this road to the temple every day. There is another road, hundreds of kilimetres long that runners used to carry messages. You can hike to it today and imagine yourself running along hundreds of years ago.

The archeological museum we visited today filled in a lot of blanks. The Incans had a remarkably well organized and dynamic society with beautiful pottery, gold and silver ornaments.





Implements.





A self satisfied character.





The Incans used silver to represent the female, corresponding to the left side of the human body -- the moon, the night time, the heart, spirituality and fertility. Gold represented the male and the right side of the body -- the sun, daytime and the head.


















The museum also displayed contemporary architecture.







The suffering of the people.






An indiginous woman's labour.


Speaking of labour, my instructor has one week to go and she is holding on. Female employees in the private and public sector are allowed three months paid employment after birth. Fathers have just been granted three weeks to be home after birth. The sign of a civilized society.

Yesterday my homework was to write a literary criticism. My instructor was impressed wtih the results. So now I have to write another. Gads. We have two days of classes left and on Sunday leave for the five hour drive to Riobamba. The hotel receptionist is happy to drive us because his five year old son is asking for Christmas presents!