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MACCHU PICCHU
And speaking of tourist attractions, we went to a tourist attraction a little south of here, called Macchu Picchu, or something like that. They were showing off some earlier living styles, although as far as we could tell, no one was actually living there when we visited. There seems to be a bit of a mystery about who actually lived there. And what they did there. There are several stories they tell the tourists. In one version, it was an observatory. Or it was a monastery, or a nunnery. Then again, it was a hideaway. Or all of these.
I became skeptical of these theories as soon as I saw how remote this place is and how far up the hill. I thought about the workers, asked to build this place.
“You mean, you want me to haul these rocks way up there so you can have an observatory and tell me when to plant corn? I know when to plant corn. I’ve always known when to plant corn. You guys wouldn’t be here if I didn’t know when to plant corn. And then you want me to drag that big rock up there too and then carve it down so you can have a sundial. Gimme a break. You can get a sundial at Inca Home Depot that weighs less that a ton and works fine.”
When we got up there, I saw a road leading to this place. Not just any road. The Inca Trail. That road is in amazingly good shape. You could do that road in a wheelchair. Maybe not a design requirement back whenever, but still, you wouldn’t build a road that good for a hideaway.
Definitely something wrong with that theory. Also, three people could walk that road abreast, which should tell you something about the real purpose. As you walk into the place, you see a stone building, arched over the entrance. They said it was a guardhouse and watch tower. But it was on the down side of a slope. You can’t see more than 50 yards up the trail. Should’ve been at the top of a ridge.
Turns out, there’s a real village, with real people in it, near here, called Willoc. Well, in these parts, “near here” means several hours away by bus. In this village, they put on a yard sale whenever tourists drive in, or, as in our case, walk in. The road was washed out. I was looking at the trinkets and baskets for sale and happened to notice that all the vendors were women. I edged up to our guide and asked, “Are there men in this village?” “Oh, sure.” “And where are the men today?” “Oh, they’re at work. “ “Oh, I see. Um, and where do they work?” “Oh, they’re off in the hills, herding the alpacas and llamas and looking for coca leaves.”
You’ve all heard the story about this Yalie, who was staying at a B&B down there in the Urubamba Valley, happened to notice some gold in the dining room, asked about it, and the waiter took him to this place. Now they’re saying, he found it. Well, I don’t think it was ever lost. I think they’ve been holding weddings and bar mitzvahs here all along.
I haven’t worked out all the details yet, but it’s quite clear this was some sort of casino, perhaps the first Indian-owned casino. The rooms are arranged so that you can observe from above. Those two bird-bath type things they say are for lunar observing, are, I’m sure, part of some sort of luck/skill game. The “guardhouse” was, of course, the ticket window. The “Sundial” was possibly part of a tipsy test. If you fail, you may need the three-person road. If my grant request is approved, I’ll be able to prove this theory. Thank you for listening.
MACCHU PICCHU
And speaking of tourist attractions, we went to a tourist attraction a little south of here, called Macchu Picchu, or something like that. They were showing off some earlier living styles, although as far as we could tell, no one was actually living there when we visited. There seems to be a bit of a mystery about who actually lived there. And what they did there. There are several stories they tell the tourists. In one version, it was an observatory. Or it was a monastery, or a nunnery. Then again, it was a hideaway. Or all of these.
I became skeptical of these theories as soon as I saw how remote this place is and how far up the hill. I thought about the workers, asked to build this place.
“You mean, you want me to haul these rocks way up there so you can have an observatory and tell me when to plant corn? I know when to plant corn. I’ve always known when to plant corn. You guys wouldn’t be here if I didn’t know when to plant corn. And then you want me to drag that big rock up there too and then carve it down so you can have a sundial. Gimme a break. You can get a sundial at Inca Home Depot that weighs less that a ton and works fine.”
When we got up there, I saw a road leading to this place. Not just any road. The Inca Trail. That road is in amazingly good shape. You could do that road in a wheelchair. Maybe not a design requirement back whenever, but still, you wouldn’t build a road that good for a hideaway.
Definitely something wrong with that theory. Also, three people could walk that road abreast, which should tell you something about the real purpose. As you walk into the place, you see a stone building, arched over the entrance. They said it was a guardhouse and watch tower. But it was on the down side of a slope. You can’t see more than 50 yards up the trail. Should’ve been at the top of a ridge.
Turns out, there’s a real village, with real people in it, near here, called Willoc. Well, in these parts, “near here” means several hours away by bus. In this village, they put on a yard sale whenever tourists drive in, or, as in our case, walk in. The road was washed out. I was looking at the trinkets and baskets for sale and happened to notice that all the vendors were women. I edged up to our guide and asked, “Are there men in this village?” “Oh, sure.” “And where are the men today?” “Oh, they’re at work. “ “Oh, I see. Um, and where do they work?” “Oh, they’re off in the hills, herding the alpacas and llamas and looking for coca leaves.”
You’ve all heard the story about this Yalie, who was staying at a B&B down there in the Urubamba Valley, happened to notice some gold in the dining room, asked about it, and the waiter took him to this place. Now they’re saying, he found it. Well, I don’t think it was ever lost. I think they’ve been holding weddings and bar mitzvahs here all along.
I haven’t worked out all the details yet, but it’s quite clear this was some sort of casino, perhaps the first Indian-owned casino. The rooms are arranged so that you can observe from above. Those two bird-bath type things they say are for lunar observing, are, I’m sure, part of some sort of luck/skill game. The “guardhouse” was, of course, the ticket window. The “Sundial” was possibly part of a tipsy test. If you fail, you may need the three-person road. If my grant request is approved, I’ll be able to prove this theory. Thank you for listening.