Category Archives: Domestic Travel

SEATTLE & ALASKA #4: ALL ABOARD! RIDING THE DENALI STAR TRAIN

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The pilot on our flight from Seattle to Anchorage warned us our Seattle sunshine would turn into Anchorage rain, so we knew our weather luck had run out. We were just grateful for all the fabulous weather we experienced on our previous tours. If you look back on my previous blog posts, you will see just how lucky we were during our travels.

For that matter, we were just happy to be traveling again! We were supposed to go to France for a month last spring with Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT); however, an unexpected medical issue arose with Bruce that required canceling the trip.

(As a side note, although we prefer the smaller group size with OAT—16 rather than 24—we chose Odysseys Unlimited for this tour because we preferred their itinerary. They also did a great job on our Canadian Rockies Tour.)

We arrived in rainy Anchorage with just enough time to settle into our hotel room, walk to a restaurant for dinner, and then relax back at the hotel before bed. Sometime between leaving the restaurant and returning to the hotel, downtown Anchorage lost power. Fortunately, we were able to take the stairs to our third floor room and get in with our card key. Our room had a huge window, and even though it was raining, it was still light enough in our room. It doesn’t get dark in Alaska during the summer until nearly midnight!

Relaxing in bed with nothing to do but talk, Bruce started singing, “Hello darkness my old friend…” I don’t know how Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel would have reacted, but I laughed hysterically. What else could we do but laugh at the situation? Thankfully, a couple of hours later as we were falling asleep, the lights came on and woke us up. Figures.

The following morning, we met up with our Odysseys Unlimited tour group and guide, Julie, for breakfast and introductions, before departing by bus for Talkeetna to catch the train to Denali. We arrived early, so we had time to take a wander through the little town before boarding the train. It was cold and rainy, so Bruce and I opted to duck into a bakery to warm up. Having just eaten breakfast, we passed on the incredible looking cinnamon rolls and opted for a small bag of cookies instead. I couldn’t stop staring at the bakery case, though; it sure was tempting!

For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.

Talkeetna Roadhouse Bakery is located across the street from this sign.
A t-shirt hanging on the wall of the bakery
So true!

Our group boarded the private dome car of the Wilderness Express, pulled by the Alaska Railroad locomotive on the Denali Star train route. Although it was raining, the ride was still beautiful, and the service outstanding. We tried not to think about what it could have been like on a beautiful day. All was forgotten, though, when we went to lunch in the dining car and tasted the smoked salmon chowder. It was delicious; the best chowder of the trip! And there were many during our two weeks in Alaska.

Watching the scenery pass by as we enjoyed our chowder, we were grateful for the wonderful experience!

Scenes shot outside from the train’s platform, and getting wet in the process!

A wood carving in the dome car; a nice touch!

Upon arrival at the Denali Park Village Lodge, we had learned that July had already been the wettest July on record in Denali, and it was only July 22. Would the rain ever stop? Stay tuned, I promise there are sunny days ahead!

Flower baskets were abundant on the grounds of the lodge. This post needed a splash of color!

Coming up next: SEATTE & ALASKA #5: DRIVING THROUGH DENALI

SEATTLE & ALASKA #3: CHIHULY’S GORGEOUS GLASS

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Ask either of us who our favorite artist is (of all mediums), and we will say without hesitation, Dale Chihuly. A glass artist known for his blown glass and enormous glass sculptures, his colorful creations bring a smile to our faces every time.

Born and raised in 1941 in Tacoma, Washington, he has spent much of his life in the state drawing inspiration from the waters of Puget Sound, his mother’s gardens, and the art of Indigenous tribes.

In addition to an impressive and extensive educational background, Chihuly has had an incredible career as a glass artist, as you will see by clicking on the previous link. He began experimenting with glassblowing in 1965 and was a well-accomplished artist when an unfortunate car accident in 1976 left him blinded in his left eye. He was able to continue blowing glass after recovering until he dislocated his right shoulder while bodysurfing, in 1979.

At that point, physically unable to endure the heavy lifting required in glass blowing, Chihuly hired other artists to do the work under his instruction and supervision, guiding them in bringing his visions to life. As a team under his extraordinary leadership and entrepreneurial expertise, Chihualy’s sales to date up through 2004 were estimated to have been $29 million. I can’t even imagine what they must be now. There is no published information, but the numbers must be staggering.

Bruce and I had seen Dale Chihuly’s installations in several locations, including the Atlanta Botanical Gardens and Chihuly Collection in St. Petersburg, but we were anxious to also visit Chihuly Garden and Glass, in Seattle.

Color is my thing. Over the years, my favorite photographic subjects have been underwater scenes captured while SCUBA diving, hot air balloons, and glass art. I shot a lot of photos in the museum and gardens, so editing them down was a struggle. Here, then, are probably way more pictures of glass than you want to see, but I didn’t want to leave out:

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

Chihualy was inspired by snow and ice (above), and baskets woven by Indigenous tribes (below)

Inspired by the sea
This was a large room with a glass ceiling filled with blown glass. All heads were turned up when I entered this room!

The next room was a forest of glass

This installation includes two of Chihuly’s wooden rowboats, one filled with Ikebana elements and another with Niijima Floats. Their origins date to 1995 in Nuutajarvi, Finland, where he experimented with temporary installations along the shore of the nearby river and tossed glass forms into it to see how the glass would interact with water and light. Local teenagers gathered the drifting glass in rowboats, inspiring Chihuly to create a new type of installation with a variety of forms including two seen here: Ikebana and Niijima Floats.
Although we have seen glass blowing demonstrations many times before, it never gets old for us!
Al, this Needle is for you!
Following our visit to the Chihuly Museum, we returned to Pike Place for this delicious seafood chowder sampler at Pike Place Chowder. I highly recommend it!

Next up: SEATTLE & ALASKA #4: ALL ABOARD! RIDING THE DENALI STAR TRAIN

SEATTLE & ALASKA #2: POPULAR PIKE PLACE MARKET & WALKING THE WATERFRONT

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On a sunny day, Seattle is a wonderful city to see on foot. Following our light rail ride into the city, we spent the day exploring Pike Place Market, the waterfront, and Pioneer Square Preservation District.

It was a beautiful July Sunday that coincided with the final game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, so we knew it would be crowded at the market. What we didn’t know was that a large screen would be set up just outside the market for viewing the game. We took a deep breath, put on our imaginary patience caps, and braved the crowds.

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

Along with the rest of the crowd, we wanted to see the fish mongers throwing fish at Pike Place Fish. They have become famous for tossing fish back and forth, a silly but iconic feature at one of the oldest and largest continuously operating public markets in the United States. Seeing it brought back memories from 1987 when we first saw the shenanigans.

Founded in 1907, Pike Place Market offers everything from seafood to fresh flowers to artisans selling their crafts. We weren’t interested in shopping, but it was fun roaming through the market and doing photography

The flowers were so fresh and colorful! For that matter, the flowers all over downtown, from the hanging baskets to waterfront planters were one of my favorite things about Seattle. It added so much color and charm to the cityscape!

Seattle did a fabulous job connecting Pike Place Market to the waterfront down below with its winding ramps. There were also stairs and elevators available as an option. And the waterfront was such a pleasant place to walk and enjoy the views of the harbor.

Walking to the far end of the waterfront development at the ferry terminal left us just a couple of blocks away from Pioneer Square. We headed up the hill and discovered another crowd gathered at the square in front of a jumbo screen watching Spain beat Argentina for the World Cup.

As it turned out, utilizing this map was very helpful in planning our day. We arrived at the Symphony Station, just a short walk to Pike Place Market, and then departed by train from the Pioneer Station to return to our hotel. We were able to see everything we wanted to, leaving just the Chihuly museum (located adjacent to the Space Needle) for the following day.

Coming up next: Seattle & Alaska #3: Chihuly’s Gorgeous Glass

SEATTLE & ALASKA #1: SUNNY SEATTLE

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It had been thirty-nine years since Bruce and I visited Seattle, so we looked forward to seeing how the city had changed. A small group Alaskan land tour was booked with Odysseys Unlimited that would begin with a flight out of Seattle to Anchorage, so we arrived a few days early.

Seattle has a reputation (rightly so) for being very rainy; the average rainfall is about 39 inches of rain per year. And if it’s not raining, it is often cloudy. The city experiences about 201 cloudy days per year compared to 93 partly cloudy and 71 clear days. We anticipated the former rather than the latter, so we were pleasantly surprised to be greeted with sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-70’s!

Top on our list to see was Chihualy Garden and Glass, but we arrived on a Saturday and decided to wait until Monday to visit when it would be less crowded. Besides, with the museum’s dynamic pricing, it would be less expensive, too.

Opting to stay near the airport rather than downtown for an easy getaway on Tuesday morning, we found a hotel just a short walk from the Link light rail station, which was convenient for riding a train downtown each day.

A great way to get around downtown Seattle is by their free shuttle bus, which stops every 15 minutes at several locations and hits all the popular spots. Even on a Saturday in July, we were able to catch a ride with no problem. (Of course, it helped to get off the train in China Town, at the least popular end of the bus route, and then hop on the shuttle there rather than at the Space Needle.) We did the complete round trip shuttle ride, so we could get the lay of the land and see how much we remembered from our 1987 visit. (Other than the Space Needle and Pike Place Market, not much, as it turned out!)

Just a couple of blocks away from the shuttle bus is a food hall on 5th and South Weller Street, a great casual location to grab a good quick meal. We selected Los Costenos based on its Google reviews, and we enjoyed it so much, we returned for a breakfast burrito on Monday morning, before visiting the Chihualy museum.

As you can see by these shots of China Town and the Space Needle, it was indeed a sunny day in Seattle!

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

Next up: SEATTLE & ALASKA #2: POPULAR PIKE PLACE MARKET & WALKING THE WATERFRONT

TERRIFIC TORONTO #5: WALKING THE WATERFRONT & A CAPTIVATING CRUISE

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Toronto has done an excellent job redeveloping the waterfront of Lake Ontario from industrial to residential, so it is very pedestrian-friendly for locals and tourists alike. We thoroughly enjoyed it, including Sugar Beach, complete with colorful Adirondack chairs!

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

One of the beautiful features of the waterfront is Toronto Music Garden, a lovely park and garden fronting the inner harbor. The park design is inspired by Bach’s First Suite for Unaccompanied Cello, with each dance movement within the suite corresponding to a different section of the garden. Renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma worked with landscape designer Julie Moir Messervy to interpret in nature the music of Bach’s first suite.

A must-do if you visit Toronto is taking a narrated harbor and islands cruise, especially if it’s a sunny day. Once you have cruised around the islands, you will want to see them in depth. I recommend doing the cruise early in your Toronto visit to get a good overview and then returning on another day to the waterfront and hopping on a ferry to the islands. We enjoyed walking around the islands so much that we returned on our final day to see what we missed the first time! More about the islands can be seen in my final post on Toronto, but here is a preview; our ferry ride to the islands:

Coming up next: TERRIFIC TORONTO #6: ITS IDYLLIC ISLANDS

SOUTHWEST FRANCE, NORTHERN SPAIN & PORTUGAL #6: MORE BEAUTIFUL BAYONNE

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More scenes from beautiful Bayonne:

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

Bayonne Cathedral

Street art around Bayonne:

This mural about our digitally overloaded world a won a world competition.

The following tile mosaics are by Invader. According to Wikipedia, “Invader is a pseudonymous French street artist. He is known for his ceramic tile mosaics modeled on the pixelated art of 1970s–1980s 8-bit video games, many of which depict the titular aliens from the arcade games Space Invaders, Pac-Man and Super Mario Bros. (the inspirations for his pseudonym). As of December 2020, his creations can be seen in highly-visible locations in 79 cities in 20 countries.[1] To accompany his citywide installations, or “Invasions”, Invader publishes books and maps as guides to the locations of his mosaics.”

Markets & food of Bayonne:

Some of the fabulous chocolate Tom gave to the seven of us on the pre-trip extension to share.

Coming up next: SOUTHWEST FRANCE, NORTHERN SPAIN & PORTUGAL #7: BIARRITZ & SAINT-JEAN-DE-LUZ

TURKIYE #12: HIKING KAYAKOY, A GREEK “GHOST TOWN”

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Our boat was anchored in a quiet cove overnight, and we were fortunate to wake up to such a beautiful day for our hike in the Greek “ghost town” of Kayakoy, located south of Fethiye. Following breakfast on board, the crew took us to shore, and we were transported to Kayakoy by minibus.

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

Kayakoy has such an interesting—but sad—history. The people of this town were Greek Orthodox Christians and lived in relative harmony with their Turkish-speaking Muslim Ottoman rulers from the 14th century until the 20th century. In 1914, a campaign was started by the Muslims who wanted the Greek Christians out of Turkiye. In 1919, 6,500 villagers from Kayakoy (as well as other Greek Christians in Turkiye) were forced to leave by the government, and many died walking the 110 miles to cross Turkiye’s border. Others were forced into Ottoman labor.

From 1919-1923, the city depopulated, and then in 1923, the Greek and Turkish governments agreed on a population exchange. The Greeks living in Turkiye were relocated to Greece, and the Muslims in Greece were sent to Turkiye. All these people were forced out of their homes, soon to be occupied by newly exchanged residents. The Muslims who were sent to Turkiye refused to live in the homes of the previous Greek occupants, however, because many Greeks had died in their homes.  They said there were “ghosts” in those houses, so that is how it became an abandoned “ghost town.”

In 1954, some of the regulations of the treaty were lifted, so some of the victims returned to what they had viewed as their country—the place they had lived their entire lives until they were forced into exile.

Currently, 925 people live in the village, but most of the previously abandoned structures sadly remain that way.

The hike, very steep at times, was beautiful and well worth the effort. The views were spectacular at the top, and the abandoned homes were quite photogenic.

The building with the flag at the top of the hill was our destination. It was a steep climb!
I’m almost there!
I made it!
This view was our reward.
Another hiker offered to take our group photo.

Views from the inside looking out:

Nuri, our tour leader, leading the way

Back in the little village of Kayakoy, we had some free time to wander around:

I fell in love with these hand-painted wood and stone magnets and purchased a couple of them.
The view from the bus on our ride back to the boat,

Next up: TURKIYE #13: HIKING & SWIMMING THE TURQUOISE COAST

MY FAVORITE TRAVEL TIPS

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I have done a lot of traveling over the years—72 countries (according to Brittanica’s list) and 42 states. During my first big trip (for one year with my backpack in the South Pacific), I learned a lot and earned my stripes!  Times have changed since that post-university graduation year of 1984, especially with technology, so many of the tips I would have given back then are now obsolete.

This leads me to Tip #1: Do NOT, I repeat DO NOT buy an eSIM for your phone at your destination airport! For that matter, save yourself a lot of stress and purchase it at home before you leave! I witnessed a big problem firsthand on our Turkiye trip. Some members of our tour group purchased an eSIM at the airport upon arrival and it didn’t work with their phone, which they didn’t learn until later. They were also unable to get a refund.

My recommendation? I have an unlocked cell phone I use for travel and purchase a global eSIM from home through Airalo. I purchased the $89 one that is valid for 365 days and includes 20 GB of data, 200 minutes of phone, and 200 SMS texts. They also sell just data eSIMs, so make sure you click on the “Data/Calls/Texts” tab on the site if you want all three.

There are Airalo eSIM options that are less expensive, but the valid period is shorter and they include less. Since we travel a lot internationally throughout the year, the 365-day eSIM works best for me, and I have not had any problems with it at all.

Tip #2: Do you use the safe in your hotel room? Have you ever forgotten something in that safe? On a previous trip, a fellow traveler forgot their passport in the safe and didn’t realize it until the bus had driven off. To avoid the same mistake, leave one shoe in the safe of the pair you will be wearing when you check out. I doubt you will leave the hotel wearing one shoe!

Tip #3: Check with your bank to see if it has a partner bank at your destination. I use an ATM card from Bank of America, and using their partner banks saved me $11 per transaction during my last trip.

Tip #4: If you are traveling with a spouse, you should each carry an ATM card and credit card in case one doesn’t work for some reason. We only own two credit cards, and we each carry a different one in case there is a problem.  I have also adjusted my bank and credit card settings to notify me by e-mail following every single transaction, no matter the amount, so I will know if either one has been compromised.

Tip #5: In a computer document, type a list of passwords, insert images of your scanned passport, wallet contents, and include any other important information you may need.  Make sure to PASSWORD PROTECT that document! Now, email or text it to yourself with a phony title. If you need to write down the password, DO NOT include what that password is for. Just put it on a piece of paper and put it somewhere safe.

Tip #6: Bruce and I hate wearing those travel waist belts, so I use a small Travelon security backpack that has straps that can’t easily be cut with a knife. It also includes locking zippers and other security features. My travel wallet (with security features) has a chain that I clip to the loop inside my pack. In crowds, I wear the pack in front of me.

Tip #7: Before packing cubes were invented, I used Ziploc bags for clothes and sucked the air out before zipping shut.  This kept my clothes organized and easy to repack in my backpack.  Compression cubes are so much easier now! Still, I always pack empty Ziploc bags for unfinished snacks purchased along the way, chocolate bars (which I ALWAYS buy), anything that could cause a messy disaster in my suitcase, and for handwash, as detailed in my next tip.

Tip #8: Pack light, and then handwash your clothes when needed. If the sink (or bidet) in your hotel doesn’t have a stopper, place your handwash in a large Ziploc along with detergent and water, zip shut, shake, and rinse. For a larger load, I either use the plastic laundry bag the hotel provided, or if it has holes, I use the plastic grocery bags I always stick in my suitcase.  Load it up with your laundry, soap and water, twist shut, shake, and rinse.  Forget to bring laundry sheets or detergent from home?  Use the hotel’s bath gel.  After doing your handwash and squeezing the water out, roll them up in a towel (which will absorb the excess water) and your clothes will dry quicker. 

Tip #9: In the morning when the room cleaning carts are in the hotel hallway, grab an extra towel and return the wet ones from your handwash.

Tip #10: Bring a couple of inflatable hangers for the t-shirts or blouses you wash.  They pack light, and clothes dry quicker.  They also come in handy if the hotel shorts you on hangers.

Tip #11: Pack an empty small spray bottle (I use one left from travel size hairspray) in your suitcase. If your clothes are wrinkled upon arrival, fill the bottle with water, hang your clothes up in the bathroom, and spray them.  Shake each one out with a vigorous snap, hang it back up, and your wrinkles will be gone when the water is dry.  (Yes, I carefully roll my clothes and even lay a dry cleaning bag in between the folds, but I still get some wrinkles!)

Tip #12: Spread a thin layer of Vaseline on your feet in any place susceptible to getting blisters.  This has worked every time for me, even after long hikes!

Tip #13: Traveling to a third-world country?  Toilet paper may not be available in public bathrooms.  Grab a roll from your hotel bathroom, stick it in that extra Ziploc bag you brought, and drop it in your backpack.  You will thank me later, and so will the others in the bathroom line you share it with!

Tip #14: Hotels in some countries do not provide facial tissue, or, if they do, it is very thin and scratchy.  The tissue in travel Kleenex packs is also not top-quality, so before you leave home, go ahead, splurge, and buy a box of the softest, cushiest tissue you can find.  Take it out of the box and fold them into Ziploc Snack Bags.  Drop one bag in your backpack and as many back-ups as you think you may need in your suitcase.  If you don’t get sick or have allergies, keep the unused bags in your suitcase for next time. (For that matter, keep all your travel stuff in your suitcase for your next trip.) If you do get sick, again, you will thank me.  You’re welcome.  Note: If you are fortunate to come across a hotel during your travels with cushy Kleenex, refill your bags.

Tip #15: Do you use a white noise machine at home?  Leave it there and download a free app on your phone.  I use Sleep Sounds.

Tip #16: Bring a few laundry clips or clothes pins for all sorts of uses.  I like to sleep in a dark room, so if the drapes won’t close well, I clip them shut.  They also come in handy for unfinished snacks, if your Ziploc bags are already in use elsewhere.  Another use is to clip together brochures and maps you collect along the way.

Happy travels!

UNITED KINGDOM #1: CHARMING CHESTER

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In August, a few weeks after returning from Peru, Bruce and I traveled to the United Kingdom and Ireland for back-to-back tours with Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT)—a six-week long trip including post-extensions for each tour.  We returned home in early October, and then switched gears for craft show season for his fused glass jewelry.  In between, I finished up my posts and slide show on Peru, so I am finally able to begin posting about the U.K.

Welcome to England, dear readers!  We begin in the charming city of Chester, located in the northwest region of the country.  This city of about 93,000 people is old.  Founded in 79 AD as a Roman fort, it is surrounded by walls considered to be the best preserved in the country.  We enjoyed walking the walls, a two-mile circuit providing great views of the city, including the half-timber Tudor buildings and two-story covered arcades in the shopping district. 

Before Bruce and I embarked on our wall walk, we joined our group on a walking tour and tearoom lunch with Tom, our guide for the next two weeks.  Tom is from Wales, and we instantly liked his gentle, easy-going personality. 

Here are scenes from around town during our stay in Chester:

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

Looking out from an ice cream shop located on the top of the city wall near the clock (below).
This was a Roman Amphitheater. An artist was quite creative in painting a mural to continue what was left of the original stone wall.
Remaining walls of what was originally Cathedral Church of St. John, dating back to 689, and is now Parish Church of St. John the Baptist.
Chester Cathedral

Coming up next: UNITED KINGDOM #2: WONDERFUL WALES

PERU #13: A DAY IN THE LIFE OF ISKUCHACA AND CHINCERO VILLAGES

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What I enjoyed so much about this tour of Peru was the wonderful mix of exploring amazing historical sites such as Machu Picchu, learning about the Incas, seeing how the locals work and live, and interacting with them.  The “Day in the Life” experience on each Overseas Adventures tour is all about those last two in the mix, so this was my kind of day!

It was a day full of cultural discoveries, beginning with a visit to Izcuchaca (elevation 11,000 feet), a village in the Anta Province of Cusco.  The popular and most cost-effective mode of transportation in Peruvian villages is by moto taxi, so we did what the locals do.  Our bus dropped us off in town, and Raul hailed several moto taxis for our group of 16 to take us to the local mercado (market).  These three-wheeled covered motorcycles are cheaper than a car taxi—about 25 cents a ride.  Want to buy one of these three-wheelers?  A new one will set you back about $2,600.

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

How about warm homemade corn beer? That large Coca Cola bottle of plain beer will cost you about 50 cents. Double it for strawberry.

I enjoy wandering through a local, (non-touristy) market where I can observe, explore, do photography, and interact with the vendors using what little Spanish I can speak.  At this market, there was a busy soup counter filled with workers on their lunch break enjoying huge bowls of hearty chicken soup for about $2.75. 

To put the cost of food in perspective, the minimum monthly wage in Peru is about $304—not a lot to live on.  As a result, poverty is high; the official poverty rate in Peru is 32-35%, but 60-70% in rural areas.  There is no welfare system, so both parents must work for a family to survive, leaving their children to fend for themselves with not much parental attention. 

As I wandered the market while Bruce went off in another direction, a few curious looks came my way, but nobody bothered me.  We found Peruvians in general to be a bit shy and quiet, but friendly when approached with a few words of Spanish.

This 76-year-old man runs a cycle taxi service.

Next on the “Day in the Life” agenda was visiting a family at their home in the Chacan community.  This family of farmers has four bulls for breeding, pigs, guinea pigs, and a burro.

They grow their own corn and other produce that they take to the market on Sundays to sell. They can’t afford their own truck, so they pay a driver to pick them up with their produce.  They also can’t afford to buy a tractor for working the fields, so they rent one for about $25 per hour.

After touring their farm, we had the opportunity to ask the family questions with Raul as our translator. They were so warm and friendly and seemed to really enjoy having us at their home.

On our way to our next destination, we stopped at a viewpoint where locals were selling their wares:

Next, we visited the “Medicine Man,” an Andean Shaman who performed a healing ceremony.  Although Peru is a Catholic country, about 75% of its people practice going to a Shaman.

Offerings were given to the Pachamama (Mother Earth) by packaging and burning them, and the Shaman wished for good health and safe travels for each of us. 

This was a very culturally full day, but we weren’t finished yet!  We experienced all of that before lunch!

Our next stop was Chinchero Village at a textile weaving co-op where they prepared lunch for us and demonstrated the textile dyeing and weaving processes.  The women of the co-op all wore black skirts which represents Pachamama.

During the demonstration, they explained how the wool is cleaned using jicama that is grated in water.  It is strained and agitated, washed, and then dried in the sun before being dyed.  Natural fruits, plants, parasites, or lichen are used for the dyes.  Purple corn, for example, is used to dye wool purple, and cactus beetles are used to make red dye.  Salt is added to fix the color into the wool. 

This beautiful hanging we bought from the weaver was made with a design representing serpents (white) and puma claws (in between the white serpents).  The colorful stripes represent the Cusco flag.  It took this weaver four months to make and it cost about $150.  She was also the cook for our lunch!

Chirimoya fruit
Lucamer fruit

We returned to Cusco to enjoy the remainder of the afternoon and evening on our own, but Raul made us an offer we couldn’t resist—the topic of my next post.

Next up:  PERU #14: MIND-BLOWING MERCADO SAN PEDRO