| |
My fascination with Llamas started when I was little. I saw my first Llama; I hugged it, and it was like hugging a soft cloud. It was from then I loved Llamas of all shapes and sizes. I considered it a quirk, so I didn’t tell this to many people.
Being able to see Llamas was why I was super excited about landing in Machu Picchu, and to see the historic sight of the Incan ruins, of course.
I should have kept my excitement low as not to be disappointed. My guide and riding llama were the most miserable lot I had come across in a while. The cranky creature was one false word or gesture away from spitting at me. He was not the cuddly animal I imagined him to be.
I affectionately named my Llama “Surly”.
So, Surly and his owner Alejandro were quiet. They responded only when they felt was necessary. I spent much of my time talking for three, including the Llama.
I met my guide at the train station. It took a plane ride from Cuzco to get to the train station. From the Ollantaytambo train station, I could take the bus up a serpentine road. The thought of a bus ride on the steep roads made people nervous. My other option was climbing an hour of the challenging stairs to get to the summit.
I chose the stairs.
The ruins of Machu Picchu were nestled high in the slopes of the Andes. The citadel city in the sky. A remnant of the Inca Empire.
A thin mist shrouded it, the fog adding an element of mystery to the walls, terraces and stairways. All around there was lush vegetation. Machu Picchu blended into its natural setting. It was a perfect hideaway in the middle of a tropical mountain forest.
The temples and palaces at Machu Picchu were in a stepped pyramid shape. They were made with polished dry-stone walls and decorated with elaborate reliefs and inscriptions. There were several thousand stone-cut steps, many high walls and tunnels. The Inca made these towering stone monuments with stones cut to fit together, and without mortar.
I saw Machu Picchu’s Temple of the Sun, the Room of Three Windows and the Intihuatana stone. The Inca used the Intihuatana stone as a solar clock or calendar. Present-day, most of the outlying buildings were reconstructed for tourists.
There was so much knowledge lost with time, as the Inca left no written records themselves. We knew about their history from the oral tradition, and from the written records made from them.
The descendants of the Inca were the present-day Quechua-speaking inhabitants of the Andes. I hoped to learn a few words of Quechua from them.
I was busy taking pictures of Llamas that were walking freely around the park. Some of them were friendly enough to pet, but others like Surly wanted me to leave them alone.
I felt my phone vibrating, so I checked to see who it was. It was surprising to see that Dad was calling. I couldn’t recall the last time we chatted.
“Hi, Dad!”
“Hi, Ellie! How are you, sweetie? Wait, is that a Llama? I remember the first time you saw a Llama, you barely reached my knee. Now, you are as tall as one!”
I groaned. “Thanks, Dad.” Surly, the Llama in question, continued to chew on the grass unperturbed.
“Guess what? Your mom is here, too.”
Before I could react, mom was on the phone. “Hi, Eleanor. How are you, dear? You lost a lot of weight. Have you been eating and sleeping alright?”
“Hi, mom! Yes, I am good! I have been hiking and climbing a lot of stairs. I am fine, really!”
“Ok, dear. Take care of yourself,” Mom said, concerned. “Before I forget, your agent was looking for you. She said she called a few times, but the signal wasn’t getting through. She said it was about a role?”
“Ok, mom. I will send her an email. I don’t always have clear reception. It is so good to see both you and dad.”
“It was lovely seeing you, Eleanor. We miss you. Remember to eat well.”
“Ok, I will, mom. I miss you both.”
I missed having normal conversations like this. I felt homesick after talking to mom and dad.
Alejandro left without saying a word. I wondered if he wanted to give me some privacy? He must have gone to get something to eat as I saw him return with a sweater and some fruits.
“Here,” he said, handing me both the fruits and the sweater.
“What are these?” I asked, looking at the green-colored fruits.
“These are Chirimoya or custard apple. They are for your energy. Your mom is right... you need to eat more.”
“Wow, thank you, Alejandro!” I said, surprised. “What is the sweater for?”
“It is a gift. We made it from the Llama’s wool. She will keep you warm on cold days.” Alejandro said, pointing to Surly.
“Wow, this is amazing. I don’t know what to say. Thank you, Alejandro...”
“Thank you would be enough,” Alejandro said.
I felt the sweater and it was soft. It will be the closest thing to hugging Surly.
I went as close to Surly as I could, without offending the Llama, and said, “Thank you, Surly, for the sweater!”
“You remind me of my daughter,” said Alejandro. “She calls the animal ‘Duro’.”
“Duro? What does that mean?”
“It means harsh one.”
“Oh, I see!” I said, laughing. “Mucho gracias, Duro!”
The Llama was unimpressed with his name and made a humming sound. He continued to chew on the grass.
It was so tranquil here... every stone, every tree and every element adding to the peacefulness. I ended the day watching another sunset, this time in Machu Picchu. I saw the setting sun casting a golden light on the mystical ruins.