The schoolyard all to herself, a little girl enjoys a few instants of freedom in the middle of Cusco (click on picture for high res)
Leica M8 with 35mm Lux Asph at F1.4, 1/8000, ISO160
Oct 102011
Oct 092011
As we walked down a street of Cusco, we suddenly heard “Maradona, Maradona”. For a while, one could almost think that the God of football was in the same street, yet he was not. It was just a little girl calling her dog. I never thought someone would ever call its dog Maradona, it made me laugh for quite a while. (click on picture to enlarge)
Leica M9 with 35mm Lux Asph
Sep 232011
Uros, Amanti and Taquile sound like names of Antiquity Gods. Yet they are the names of three islands on Lake Titicaca where we spent the last two days. Uros are the floating islands where the inhabitants’ houses are built on rushes. Amanti is home of fishermen and sheperds who perpetuate centuries old traditions. As for Taquile, it is know for its weavers which are men only. (click on pictures for high res).
All pictures taken with Leica M8 and 35mm Lux Asph
Sep 222011
There are no cars in Aguas Calientes, but the streets are so full of life. (click on pictures for high res)
(This is a pre-programed post as we are staying overnight on a Lake Titicaca island with no electricity and obviously, no internet)
All pictures taken with Leica M8 and 35mm Lux Asph
Sep 212011
A 9 hours bus trip with touristic stops brought us from Cusco to Lake Titicaca. We discovered the amazing sceneries of the Altiplano, or high plains which stand at about 4000 meters about sea level. Let’s therefore leave street photography aside for a day and discover this remote area of the world. (click on pictures for high res)
All pictures taken with Leica M8 and 35mm Lux Asph
Sep 202011
So we finally made it to Machi Picchu. I won’t show the classic panorama pictures, but a photographic essay on the Mount that overlooks the Machu, that is Hunaya Picchu.
It is 6 am, the gates of the Machu Picchu have just opened. It is a grey day and a light rain falls over the ancient city.
Low clouds make it difficult to see beyond a few meters.
Only shadows of the long forgotten town appear in the distance.
Wooden roofs disappeared long ago, yet the walls resisted the assault of time.
A few llamas graze on the terraces once filled with thousands flowers.
I wonder how many generations of Incas contemplated the lower valleys from the walls of Machu Picchu.
We now reach the checkpoint to the Hunaya Picchu.
The mountain I thought we would conquest appears at the end of the settlement. I cheer up and think that the climb won’t be that difficult.
Mistake. the true Hunaya Picchu was hiding behind in the clouds. I start to get nervous as I contemplate its high peak and very steep slopes. A few hikers have preceded us, it looks like they are about to fall like small toys.
We engage in the old trail, built in stone centuries ago by the Inca.
The steps are slippery and I can’t help imagining a fall. It would be leathal for sure.
The first terraces of the Inca settlement built on the peak of Hunaya Picchu are reached. The goal is near.
And a few minutes later, Mount Hunaya Picchu is finally conquested.
Still no view of Machu Picchu though. It would come after a long wait. The condor-shaped city finally appeared briefly through a hole in the clouds. The ghosts of thousands Incas rewarded the bold climbers.
All pictures taken with Leica M8 and 35mm Lux Asph
Sep 192011
Aguas Calientes is a small town that serves as base camp to the climb to the Machu Pichu. It can only be reached by train. The 3 hours ride, Orient Express style, through Sacred Valley is stunning and a feeling of “end of the world” overwhelmed me as we entered the Aguas Calientes train station. Still, life in Aguas Calientes looks to be like any other place in the world. (click on pictures for high res)
All pictures taken with Leica M8 and 35mm Lux Asph