Mark and Connie Reichelt, daughters Madison and Sophie all travelled to Machu Picchu, Peru. The photos of the area are incredibly beautiful. However, the history of the area is also one of the reasons it has been chosen as one of the seven wonders of the world. Often referred to as
"the Lost City of the Andes".
Machu Picchu is located only 50 miles from the Inca capital in Cusco. It was abandoned by the Inca's because they believed the Spanish conquistadors were coming, but the Spanish never found Machu Picchu and therefore did not plunder or destroy it as they had other sites. Over the years, actually centuries, the jungle overgrew and it was not discovered until 1911 when American historian and explorer, Hiram Bingham, was shown the city by a villager, Melchor Arteaga. In 1981, Peru declared the area as a "historic sanctuary"
Machu Picchu was built around 1450–1460. It was only used approximately 80 years before it was abandoned. Some believe that most of the inhabitants may have died from smallpox before it was abandoned.
I thought it was interesting to read that, "studies show that according to their skeletal remains, most people who lived there were immigrants from diverse backgrounds. They lacked the chemical markers and osteological markers they would have if they had been living there their whole lives. Instead, there was bone damage from various species of water parasites indigenous to different areas of Peru. There were also varying osteological stressors and varying chemical densities suggesting varying long-term diets characteristic of specific regions that were spaced apart. These diets are composed of varying levels of maize, potatoes, grains, legumes, and fish, but the overall most recent short-term diet for these people was composed of less fish and more corn. This suggests that several of the immigrants were from more coastal areas and moved to Machu Picchu where corn was a larger portion of food intake. The skeletal remains found at Machu Picchu are also unique in their level of natural bone damage from laborious activities. Most people found at the site had lower levels of arthritis and bone fractures found in most sites of the Inca Empire. Inca individuals that have arthritis and bone fractures are typically those who performed heavy physical labor and/or served in the Inca military."
The Reichelt's know Spanish, having served in the Peace Corp together in Ecuador. They had taken their daughter there before and wanted them to see Peru which Connie and Mark had visited before. They joined the Peace Corp for adventure. As Mark says, "to see a different part of the world. To see and experience different cultures."
Connie says, "it is something we have shared from the beginning."
Her bucket list to see at least one country in every continent in the world. "We wanted to take the girls to see other places and other cultures. To understand how other people, live. And you can't know or understand how other people live unless you go there."
They were in Peru 30 years ago and it has changed a lot especially how many more tourist there are. The people have technology now, so that's different, but the people themselves have not changed. They are still very giving and caring." They had hoped to surprise everyone, so they wouldn't fix huge meals everywhere they went. But they had cell phones so the fact they were there went through the jungle rapidly.
Mark said the younger generations are changing because of technology.
They did climb the mountain, almost 3,000 steps which were carved into the mountain by the Inca's. Connie said, "That was a feat. That was scary."
Mark said, "When you travel you gain a different perspective. Every time you travel".
Connie said, "When we took the children (to Equator) they got to see people who lived without means. The girls got to see they were very privilege children. They got to see very different lives."
There was a catholic church built on top of an Inca ruins in Cusco Peru. The history was so interesting.
They did a lot of reading to learn before travelling. "There are so many cultures that have disappeared."
Mark said, "I love farming. I feel very fortunate in my job. I really do enjoy my job. But, we are multi-cultural people. We enjoy the diversity of life. The Diversity of what other peoples from other places offer and their perspective and it enriches our perspective."
The best food was fried fresh mountain trout. Guinea pig is a delicacy. At one point, some women come up to them wear their traditional clothing and they had baby alpaca's who were so cute. Sophie fell in love with the babies. That night they had alpaca pizza. The one thing Connie refuses to eat is monkey. The way they cook it looks like a baby is placed on a platter.
"We love playing the game what language is that. There are so many people from so many places especially in Europe there." The world is a very big place with so many different cultures. Connie loves all the languages, all the cultures.
And they are not through. "We want to go to the Mediterranean, Greece, Rome." Connie mesmerized by these historical sites."
