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Inca Project Volunteers in Peru Take Part in Church Restoration and Inca Excavations

April 28th, 2010 Posted in Inca | 12 Comments »

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Excerpt: The volunteers in Zurite, the base for our Inca Projects, are to be involved in two significant and exciting projects. The restoration of the gorgeous 17th century church in the village square has recently started while an excavation of the original village site will start in mid-May. The restoration of San Nicolas de Bari Church. The Andean village of Zurite, like many Peruvian villages of its type, sees its Church as the cornerstone of the community. This colonial church, built following the arrival of the…

The Sacred Plants of the Incas – the Timeless World of the Andes

April 28th, 2010 Posted in Inca | 12 Comments »

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Excerpt: The Incas regarded coca as ‘the divine plant’ mainly because of its property of imparting endurance, nevertheless its use was entwined with every aspect of life; the art, mythology, culture and economy of the Inca Empire. Millions of Indians have chewed coca on a daily basis for many hundreds of years, yet never has a plant been so misrepresented and its use so controlled by prejudice and ignorance, including up to the present day. The Conquistadors considered it an idle and offensive habit to be…

Historic Ecuador Inca Hacienda

April 28th, 2010 Posted in Inca | 12 Comments »

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Excerpt: In the mid 1990s, Gary and I were exploring all through Ecuador with a group of friends. There were 12 of us, all enjoying the adventures and the surprises of Ecuador.We had finished a delightful afternoon stop at what became one of our favorites (then just a small dairy with a serving room), La Vaca. Even writing about this now, my mouth waters at the thought of high mountain chill and a hot pot of the best hot chocolate in the world…milk made fresh from…

The Myths of the Inca Empire

April 28th, 2010 Posted in Inca | 12 Comments »

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Excerpt: The history tells us about the Incas. They adored several divinities with different powers. Here are the principal gods, the Creator, the sun, the thunder, the moon, the stars, the land and the sea. Also, there were other divinities which represented nature like: the mountains, the snow capped mountain, the spring, the trees, the caves, the lakes, and including animals and plants. All of these were named guacas, name who means ???sacred”. In the other side, the official religion was imposed in the conquered places….

The Education in the Inca Empire

April 28th, 2010 Posted in Inca | 12 Comments »

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Excerpt:  1.               THE SOCIAL AND POLITICAL ORGANIZATION   The “Ayllu” was a fundamental social group in Peru. It exists before the Inca Empire. In the first times, the Ayllu have farming lands and a chief, to whom all of the community obey. The Ayllu was like a huge family with a lot of parents and cousins. In the imperial age, the Incas displace the “Sinchi??? by another public official named “Curaca”, who was named directly by the Inca. This allowed him to have a fantastic control over all…

Top Five Family Experiences on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

April 28th, 2010 Posted in Inca | 12 Comments »

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Excerpt: South America. The Amazon River. Thick, humid rainforest. The towering Andes. Lost Inca cities. Nothing could be more exciting or hold more promise than these sights and experiences. The same excitement you feel is quadrupled when it comes to your children, and their wide-eyed wonder at what they see will make a truly unique family experience to be treasured for years to come. We count down the top five family experiences you can delight in on your Inca trail trek to Machu Picchu and beyond. 5. White…

Discovering the Lost Treasures of the Inca

April 28th, 2010 Posted in Inca | 12 Comments »

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Excerpt: Peru is a country that inspires visitors from all over the globe to come and learn what it has to offer. With stunning scenery, vibrant cities and, for some, the chance to learn treasure, there’s plenty that sets Peru apart from the rest. Home to many different ancient tribes, the Incas have become one of the most well-known groups of inhabitants in Peru. Historically, the Incas were robbed of their treasures when Spaniards invaded, and it’s thought that much of the gold and silver loot…

Trek the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu – What You Need to Know

April 28th, 2010 Posted in Inca | 12 Comments »

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Excerpt: Machu Picchu, the so called “Lost City of the Incas”, has become a classic “see before you die” sight since it was rediscovered at the beginning of the 20th century by the American explorer Hiram Bingham. It is an unforgettable place – a set of excellently preserved Inca ruins perched on top of a mountain in the middle of the Peruvian Andes. Machu Picchu is visited by nearly a million people every year, and though the site is accessible by bus from the local town of…

Native American Masks

April 28th, 2010 Posted in Native American | No Comments »

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Excerpt: Native American Masks. The story of the masks created by North American Indigenous people is mysterious and religious in nature. False Face societies, of the Iroquois Confederacy, governed by the Grand Council of the Haudenosaunee, have very protective policies in place regarding the medicine these masks afford the tribal members. These masks are depicted often times with twisted lips and enlarged eyes, tangled hair and more. To the initiate these masks are very important medicine symbols and are representative of medicine beings. The masks are most often made of wood from a live tree, and corn husks, and are quite intimidating in…

The History of Native American Bone Chokers

April 28th, 2010 Posted in Native American | No Comments »

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Excerpt: The History of Native American Bone Chokers. Bone chokers originally were made from bird legs. They were seldom used as just ornamentation. They were used as physical protection for the throat from a possible knife attack. The jugular vein is in the neck and is lethal if cut. They were also used in conjunction with physical protection as a spiritual protection for the voice. Because most birds are noted for the sounds they make or for their singing quality. The spirit of the bird could be invoked to protect the person’s voice from ailments, jealousy or fatigue. There is also…

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