Our Afternoon in Chinchero

Following breakfast at our hotel in Lima, we departed for the airport for our flight to Cusco. We were there just long enough to board a tour bus for our trip to Urubamba and the Scared Valley.

Cusco is slightly over 11,000 feet above sea level, which is quite a change from Lima and our home in the Yucatan, both at sea level. However, it was just a short stop as we went higher to the town of Chinchero, at about 12,300 feet above sea level.

Chinchero lies on the main road from Cusco to Urubamba and is known as the bread basket of Cusco. It grows an abundance of Potatoes, Grains, Cereals and Tubers. However, it may be best known for its incredible weavers.

After about an hour’s drive from Cusco airport, we arrived at the town of Chinchero. We stopped as a small cooperative. The women may be known for weaving, but we enjoyed a homemade lunch, a weaving demonstration, and a short talk about their jewelry making.

 

Lunch In Chinchero

The women worked in an outdoor kitchen. While it had some modern conveniences, it was still pretty rustic.

 

 

We started with some locally made Bread, served with a Dipping Sauce. This was followed by a Quinoa and Vegetable Soup and an assortment of what many would consider side dishes but were the staples of their diets. Lunch included Roasted Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes, Quinoa, a Porridge of Beans, some Corn, and a Fritter of some sort. 

 

 

It was all very rustic and mildly seasoned, especially from what we are used to in the Yucatan. But it was excellent, and there was plenty to eat.

We also tried a local delicacy called Cuy, or what most of us know as Guinea Pig. Fortunately, we had lunch BEFORE we wandered too far around the property and saw pens of Guinea Pigs.

 

 

We always try local dishes regardless of how foreign they may be. This one was absolutely a one-and-done. We found the outside to be somewhat leathery. The meat was dark and tough, but it had way too many tiny bones to make eating it enjoyable.

 

We’ve tried Crocodile, Ostrich, and Ox Balls in Kenya, Scorpions in Bejing, and Grasshoppers in Mexico City and Ants in Merida. But Cuy might top the list. What’s the oddest thing you’ve ever eaten?

 

Silver Jewelry Making

Following lunch, we had a short talk about local silver jewelry that was created locally. The woman explained the quality of silver used and the various semi-precious stones and shells with which they add color. 

 

 

It was interesting but a bit of a sales pitch, given the large showroom right behind us. Truthfully, the pieces were beautiful and nicely made. Of course, we fell in love with the one large  Chakana or Inca Cross we saw during the discussion. It was probably about $750 US and not worth our investment.

 

 

We did pick out a small pendant of a Chakana with mountains on one side and a swivel showing the mother-of-pearl Pachamama or Mother Earth symbol on the other. It was added to our collection of religious pieces, which Mark displays on an old colonial door in our living room. 

 

 

The Textiles of Chinchero

The women of this region are known for their weaving and textile making. All you have to do is look at their traditional attire to see how magnificent it is.

 

 

We saw a demonstration on making yarn through weaving, which was awesome! They started by showing us how they wash, dry, and color the alpaca and llama fibers, how the yarn is made, and finally, a bit about the weaving loom they traditionally use.

 

 

The fibers are dyed using purple corn, grasses, dried flowers, and even a cactus fungus that makes a brilliant red color when mixed with a mineral. The woman described it as an all-natural, twenty-four-hour, kiss-proof lipstick!

 

 

It was fantastic to see them cooking the colorings in big pots and then dipping the fibers into the pots to color them.

 

 

They offered pieces for sale that were hand-woven and some that were machine-done. We bought a few pieces and love them.

 

After a wonderful afternoon in Chinchero, we headed across the hills toward the Sacred Valley and our next stop, Urubamba.