Brenda's Bicycles

On July 4, 2014, the day before moving from Pisac to my new home in Calca, the President of Peru came to visit me ….

Well … maybe he didn’t come to visit ME, but he did come to Pisac for a half-day visit. Having never been in the personal space of a “President” of any country, I decided to enjoy the cultural experience … especially, since back where I come from, it was Independence Day … the Fourth of July.

As usual, the photos in this post are thumbnail images. Please click on any photo to enlarge it. The thumbnails leave much to be desired as far as colors and resolution – plus the thumbnails clip all of the edges. I use thumbnails for the post itself, because it gives people an opportunity to get a summary glimpse without downloading huge amounts of data for the high-res photos.

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The Waiting Game

Early that morning, I met at the home of a new friend and we loaded up all of the belongings that I purchased from her, putting them into her small pickup truck. Included in that list was a refrigerator, a toaster oven, a dresser, a bookshelf, a table, a couple of rugs, and many miscellaneous kitchen and household items. She is moving back to Europe and I took advantage of the magic synchronicity to furnish a great deal of my new “unfurnished” home.

As we drove away from her home, attempting to get onto the main highway for the half-hour ride to Calca, we were shocked by the traffic delays and helicopters. Upon returning to Pisac, a little over an hour later, I asked a few people in town what was happening. “The president is coming,” one young woman told me. Quickly, I ran home to get my camera, returning to the town plaza less than an hour later.

Rather than the usual crowded marketplace, the plaza was cleared of all internal booths, and instead surrounded by official PR booths such as these.

Another view of the plaza. You can see that there is lots of signage everywhere … signs put there by many of the towns in this region of Peru.

More of the booths in front of the local church.

A military band doing pre-event entertainment.

Another view of the band.

A stage set up on one side of the plaza, waiting for the President’s arrival. I found a place to sit on the steps, right about at the spot from where I am taking this photo.

A sign welcoming president “Ollanta Humala” to the town of Pisac, in the district of Cusco, Peru.

People and a couple of armed guards on the roof … just above one of the signs from the community of Santa Teresa.

More onlookers on a roof. This is a great photo of the little cross and two bulls that decorate their roof (on the left). This is quite common in this part of the world. The little “alter” on the roof is to bring blessings and good luck.

From where I was sitting (directly opposite the stage), looking behind me across the sign-covered plaza and the Andes Mountains beyond.

Directly at my back was a raised platform, intended to be a place for a swarm of camera operators (which came later). For now, many local men use the platform to construct homemade signs that they plan to hold in the crowd.

The President is on his way, but not here yet. He will emerge from that crowded corner of the plaza.

As i stand in front of the platform (on the right front corner) I begin to take many photos. This gentleman is named Brian … he lives in the Pisac area and is well known for the yummy peanut butter and other natural products that he makes and sells in the area. It is very difficult to buy peanut butter any other way.

Another photo of a man writing a message on a piece of large cardboard.

It is easier to see part of the sign in this photo.

A local woman walking in front of me. I love the local clothing.

As I sat waiting, a young man asked me if I spoke English. When I told him that I do, he struck up a conversation. Eventually, I was helping him, and his friends, to do their English homework. They were quite grateful … and I had a lot of fun talking to them.

Another photo of the same scene.

As a group of people from one of the nearby villages stands to have their photo taken, I sneak one of my own.

Same, with slightly less zoom.

Another local delegation in their colorful outfits. I wish they were facing me.

The police and military were everywhere, with a strong and visible presence.

Finally, more than an hour later, the President is arriving.

I did not know who to look for in the crowd, but when he walked onto the stage, it was obvious who he was.

And now you can see his face.

A large group stood between my spot and the stage, but I was on steps, several feet higher, and had a great view … unless people held up their signs. Luckily, the camera people on the platform behind me quickly put a stop to that, and I had a perfect seat for the LONG proceedings.

First there was the singing of the Peruvian National Anthem.

Closeup of the singing, with hand on heart.

The crowd directly to my right. You can see people on the roof behind.

A zoomed in view of the same scenario.

A few more of the stern-faced officers.

Much of the first hour was consumed with formalities, speeches by other government ministers of “this and that”, and awards being presented.

This gentleman is giving that beautiful ceremonial staff to the president.

Then someone gave him a traditional poncho (wearing it now) and a traditional scarf.

The scarf being put in place.

And finally, the traditional hat, with ear flaps.

One of the times when protestors held up their signs, mostly blocking my view. This sign (left) reads: “In Pisac we are poor. With the airport we will be more poor. We need to be a tourist destination. We ask that you include us in the studies … (can’t read the final word).”

A new airport is being constructed between Cusco and Machu Picchu – one that will bypass tourist traffic – and there is apparently concern here that fewer tourists will come this way.

This sign reads: “Mr. President, we require immediate attention in the pueblo of Pisac”

The president giving an award to a local woman.

And another aware to another local woman.

Standing on the stage with many other government officials, ministers of transportation, development, etc.

After giving an award to a young woman, posing for a photo.

Continuing to speak while holding flowers that were handed to him from the crowd.

Giving an award to yet another local woman.

And another … their were lots of awards given on this day.

Then someone gave the president a woven tapestry with his own face on it.

The president was very attentive to the crowd in front of him, shaking hands, and constantly receiving envelopes and other gifts…

He has now taken off the traditional poncho, hat and scarf, and is wearing a colorful shirt that someone else gave to him.

When the long show is over, the crowd is very pinched and tight as the president is escorted back to the corner of the plaza. I am squeezed into the middle of the crowd, trying to capture more photos. The president is in that car barely turning onto this tiny narrow street. I used to eat at that restaurant with the sign “Ulrike’s”, just down on the right.

More of the police presence, now a little more relaxed.

I am walking down the street as I capture these images.

But I am not the only one on the street. A large crowd chases behind the president’s car.

Believing the president is leaving now, I take a short cut to the field where his two helicopters are parked. I pass these two officers on the way. Before taking the photo, I asked for permission.

Just an interesting adobe wall as I walk ten minutes toward a large soccer field.

More riot police with their shields, just standing along the street.

Just a view looking down the street, while waiting for the president. This is looking away from town, toward the front of the soccer field complex.

Zoomed in view of same place.

More riot police waiting for the president to pass, waiting to see if they are needed.

The two military helicopters that brought the president and his crew of government officials.

Same view, less zoom.

Same view, more zoom.

Many officers waiting by the entrance to the soccer field. They too seem to expect the president to arrive at any time.

An officer walks by me as I wait in the hot sun, sitting on this curb at the other side of the street (from where the helicopters are).

The street here is blocked off for several hours, allowing no traffic. I find this interesting, because this is the only road that joins Calca to Pisac, and on to Cusco. There is another long way from Calca to Cusco via Urubamba if you go the other direction.

A sniper posted on the second floor of a building behind me.

I took a short break to walk across the street. This is looking back at the spot where I have been sitting … and to where I will eventually return.

After more than an hour of just waiting, I walked back into town to see what was happening. It appeared that the president had been inside the local convention center, speaking to people. But just as I get there the official vehicles begin to move and I hurry back to the soccer field.

Local women in the area of the convention center.

Some interesting murals on a building across the street, as I hurry back.

Some of the vehicles headed by me, beating me back to the soccer field.

Official vehicles lined up at the entrance to the parking lot by the helicopters.

By the time I get here, the president is already back inside. Rows of officers line the route.

An officer keeping the crowd back on my side of the street. You can barely see a helicopter through the gate.

Waiting for the helicopters to take off. I giggle as they let traffic resume a minute later. Just as the helicopter begins to leave, a large truck blocks my view.

Still waiting in this photo. The place where I did my first several Huachuma (San Pedro) ceremonies is near the base of the mountain on the opposite side.

I did barely manage to catch this photo of the first helicopter stirring up dust as it begins to move. Right about now, the truck shows up to block my view.

And I managed to barely have time to snap a photo as it flies away.

I could only giggle when, as the second chopper begin to rise, a second truck again blocked my view before I could get any good photos.

But I did manage to get these last two photos of that second helicopter.

As I walked back to town, I was shocked to see huge lines of riot police heading back toward buses. I had only seen a few of them before. Now there are hundreds of them. I wonder where they had been hiding.

Back in town, looking back at yet another long line of riot police marching away toward their buses.

When I arrived back at the town plaza, I was quite surprised to see the area almost entirely broken down, with most all of the booths already removed.

This is the first opportunity I have ever had to get a photo of the town plaza without all of the normal market booths that tightly crowd this area.

A rare view of the local catholic church. Normally, this is invisible from where I now stand.

And another view of the plaza, looking more toward the east. I had no idea it looked like this.

The southwest corner of the plaza continues to have a tiny remnant of the official booths of the day.

And a little spot in the middle of the plaza continues to have these interesting signs that celebrate “Dances of the Holy Virgin of Carmen … Pisac”.

As I walk home, I pass these pigs being herded down the highway. Having my camera with me, and having never seen pigs on this highway before, I took advantage of the opportunity. I wish the photo were not so blurry.

This is the final time I will make this fifteen minute walk before moving from my present place to my new home in Calca, tomorrow morning. I have loved it here, but am excited to move on to my own “more” private space.

Copyright © 2014 by Brenda Larsen, All Rights Reserved