Ingapirca
We got up at the crack of dawn today to catch the one bus Ingapirca. Woo hoo, we thought, our first major Incan ruin! Flat stones that miraculously fit together without morter, the largest South American empire, centralized state economy, conquest and forced labor, fierce resistence to the Spanish… what’s not to like about the Incas?
However, after climbing all over huge ancient Mayan temples that poke their heads out of verdant jungles, Ingapirca was a disappointment. Whereas the Mayan history is one of mysterious abandonments of entire cities and a vibrant continuing culture, the Inca history at Ingapirca is just one of conquest. The Incas conquered the Cañari (who had lived there for thousands and thousands of years), razed their city and used their stones to build their sun temple. Forty years later, the Spanish arrived, conquered the Inca, razed their city, and used their stones to build their church. Hundreds of years later, after countless grave robbings, the city was re-discovered by archaeologists. Not much is left.
We did, however, run into a retired couple from Richland, WA, where I played many a soccer tournament in my youth (and was hopefully unaffected by the mounds of radioactive waste left from the power plant). The man, however, turned up his nose at Seattle, where he grew up, so I don’t like him. Also, a nice retired Canadian couple who chatted with us throughout the entire tour. We may have learned more about their travels than about the site. But, we didn’t mind because the site really wasn’t all that great shakes and the Canadians were funny. It’s always nice to know that, if we play our cards right, we’ll have more travel in us after retirement.
-Megan (with help from Sarah)
Tags: American Identity, Cuenca, Ecuador, Ingapirca, Ruins, South America, Travel
admin
Hey girls! your description reminds me of a comment that I think Jack Weatherford made about how we children of conquest tend only to measure value (“great civilization”) from the past in terms of what is left behind in stone or books rather than what is not — a planet walked upon lightly, lush and alive. Well, he didn’t say THAT exactly, but musing on your thoughts about the ruin and trying to remember something like it, said by somebody I once read (in a book, to be sure) made me think it.
btw — I’m still laughing at random moments over the thought of white table cloths and cremated asparagus….
OK, like, it’s really cool that y’all are, like, having some fun before entering the workforce, but, like, that doesn’t mean none of us get to have any MORE fun until we RETIRE! I intend to have lots of fun between now and then, thank you very much. Starting tonight when I go out to an ancient Vietnamese restaurant recently unearthed on Washington Avenue. I’s pre-historic strip-lighting still works! And its neon sign has been dated back to before the birth of Christ! And they use the same boba-tea making devices they used millenia ago! OK, so according to Wikipedia, boba tea was invented in the late 1990s but STILL! It’s really cool and amazing and, like, old! OK. Fine. I am pathetic and I won’t have any fun until I retire. But at least I’m not Canadian!
Dear Sarah and Megan, I just offered to act as secretary for Peter. He said he wanted to write to you, so I said, OK, what name do you want to call yourself. He said, “Harry Potter.” I started to write it and he yelled, “No, don’t write anything! I’m too tired! Actually, the poor dear just outdid himself cooking broiled salmon and baked veggies a la Bethany, Katie, and Paul (who himself may have gotten it from B. & K). I did dessert, and we had friends over for dinner, so he is is truly in la-la land as we speak. There is no new news of LOKI, thank goodness. Her caper with the computer is enough for a while. She did come into my office complaining loudly that she had not received any petting for twenty-four hours, and got a petting-on-demand session for her trouble — but that’s hardly news.
As for your news, I laughed so hard my stomach hurt at that menu. I didn’t laugh at the thought of you riding on top of a train, however. Love, G’ma
P. S. — BILL!! Do you know is your film going to be shown out of Boston next Friday on public television? How truly exciting that it is done! Have a great, great celebration and be sure to let us all know how and when we can see it.
If I play my cards right, I may someday take a trip like you two are taking… maybe after retirement. Right now, I travel like a pinball. It’s 5:30 AM here in LA, where I’ll be till tomorrow night, then it’s back to NY overnight and back to work right away on Thursday morning.
But it’ll all feel worthwhile on Friday night… around 9. It was a great thing to open up the paper and see Brick by Brick in the listings. Kinda’ made it seem real for the first time.
G’ma, we don’t have a national slot yet. After the NY broadcast, I’ll be working on that and I’ll definitely keep you all posted. LOKI too.
Did you and the man from Richland discuss the A B C houses? You were always so intrigued with that govt. plan. I wonder if he knew the Nortons.
As for your recent blogs, I loved the menu and Connie and I find ourselves referring to filets of language more than once. Even tho’ Ingapirca was a disappointment to you, I think I would like to visit. The problem with waiting until retirement is not knowing if you’ll feel like making the trip. I think I endorse the idea of borrowing money and working longer, travel while you’re young and middle-age. Thats my thot.
Love to both of you dears.
The truth is, if we had gone to Ingapirca before Tikal and Palenque it would have been fab, but since the Mayan cities were abandoned by their inhabitants and left in the jungle where the Spanish couldn’t find them under all that jungle, they weren`t pillaged the way Incan sites were. It’s funny how just looking at the ruins of a city with very little knowlege about the place itself can tell it’s own story about colonialism and conquest.
And Mom — I thought about talking about ABC houses and Patty with the Richland guy, but it was never the right time. Besides, he didn’t like Seattle.
-Megan