Bill Taylor’s Final Peru Blog Entry: “Machu Picchu”

Today was spent at Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas. It is an absolutely magnificent place. It is nestled high in the Andes Mountains and, at one time, archaeologists estimate that around 2,000 people lived there. The Incas were a remarkable people in terms of how they lived in a community with one another. They utilized a terrace system for agriculture and created bountiful harvests – key to both their strength and their survival – until the Spanish Conquest of the early 16th century. Pictures taken of Machu Picchu hardly do it justice, although they are quite stunning. We hiked up 1,000 feet above Machu Picchu to the Gate of the Sun. The Incas used intricate rock positions to determine both the winter and spring solstices – something that was necessary to maximize the yield of their crops. What struck me was the intense collaborative work necessary to sustain this community, coupled with the insight of how to utilize the gifts of creation to promote growth. It was truly remarkable, and a good reminder that such practices are, indeed, healthy and do promote growth. It was true for the Incas, as it is true for us! This will be my last post as I will spend the bulk of the next two days traveling from the heights of the Andes back to Memphis.

See you on Wednesday!