After a long break from posting, I am finally getting properly rested after my long journey to Peru and trekking the Classic Inca Trail. I’m starting to go through all of the photos that I took while on this trip, and will be posting them for your viewing pleasure.

Peru is such a warm and heartfelt country. In spite of the fact that the Quechua Indians have so little, they share so much of their hearts and souls to those that are willing to listen. The strongest force in their culture is the women. These women endure a harsh climate and even more difficult living conditions. Many live in adobe homes made of mud and straw bricks that are lucky to last 20 years. They frequently walk extensive distances so that they can get an education and training, as well as to find some sort of gainful employment.

Many are content to receive enough income to provide for the day in the city to return home to their farmland high in the Andes mountains. When looking into the faces of the young women, one sees an old soul. One full of knowledge and strength to carry them through a hard life.

In addition to farming, one vital skill that these women hold are textile weaving that they have learned from their mothers and from women way before their time. Using natural elements to create dyes for wool, they weave intricately patterned bracelets, belts and table coverings.

In Chinchero, the weaving industry is revitalizing. In recognition of the unique and traditional art these women create in their weavings a renewed interest has been dedicated to preserve this art. Our guide brought us to a small weaving school that a well-spoken young lady, Alicia demonstrated to us how they develop the dyes for the wool and how they weave. Well versed in English – her third language after Quechua, and Spanish, Alicia’s kind and demure manner created a sense of reverence towards her.

Working twelve-hour shifts, Alicia walks two hours each way between her home and Chinchero so that she may continue to learn and develop her craft. In this first photo, she is using a cactus root for a natural soap to wash the dirty wool. On the left of the frame is a cactus leaf where a small black bug lives. When squashed, this black bug creates the brilliant red that is shown in the wool yarn balls.

Other natural sources for dyes include the “Chica” green leaf for the green and the purple “Maize” corn to create the purple.

Along the road between Cusco and Pisac is a living museum of where one can go to pet and feed Llamas and Alpacas and see traditional Andean weavers at work. Awanakancha provides an educational opportunity for both tourists and women interested in developing their weaving.

This woman was given a one-year assignment at Awanakancha and she brought her daughter and son along with her on a long four-day bus ride so that she can create new opportunities for her family.

Beautifully dressed in their traditional clothing, one can watch them as they weave and spin wool.

But nothing tells the story better than the face of a wise old woman at her weaving loom.

The weavings created at both Chinchero and Awanakancha are available for purchase at these weaving schools. The quality of the weavings at Awanakancha are unsurpassed and have the price tag that go along with that quality. If that’s not enough textile shopping for you, then continue on the road to Pisac where the largest market days are on Sundays and Tuesdays. Here many booths have multiple offerings of textiles and woven clothing. But my preference is always to try to buy from the artist instead of a vendor.

I came across this kind and timid woman in an alleyway. She was having lunch with her husband and was thrilled that I stopped at her blanket for a purchase. She kindly allowed me to photograph her.

On the way out from the Pisac market, I caught these three ladies having fun at their weaving looms. You could feel their joy while walking by. If you notice, each woman is wearing a hat. These hats are indicative of the region of where they are from.

Seeing and meeting these incredible women created such an introspection of how our lives are so different, but yet so similar. They are able to find the simple pleasures in life and have learned how to create opportunities for them, in spite of adversity. Their strength and perseverance is inspirational.