June 24 - Inti Raymi celebration

The Inti Raymi celebration was what we had come to Peru to see. This is a yearly reinactment of the Incas worship of the sun. The celebration began at the Qorikancha, the principal center of worship in the former Inca Empire. Every winter solstice, the Inca worshipped the arrival of the sun here and the festivities on this 24 reflected that rite. 

We arrived a bit late so there were spectators 10 deep all around. We looked up, though, and saw a priest and several nuns smiling down on us from the La Merced School overlooking the ceremony site.
David, like the avid paparizzi that he is, was not deterred. He offered 50 soles to the guard at the padlocked shut gate and, lo and behold, we were promptly ushered in and  took our places beside the priest (possibly the archbishop), and the nuns.
David happily clicked away far over the heads of the people below.
Before we knew it, people in the crowd were clicking away at us.
After the ceremony here, the whole group, Inca and all, moved up to the Plaza de Armas.

The virgins of the sun danced and sang a hauntingly lovely song to the Inca who stood high above on the ramparts of the Qorikancha.

The ceremony over here, the Incas returned to the San Francisco Church which had been built over the Temple of the Sun. The temple was hidden and forgotten under the walls of the San Francisco Church until 1950 when an earthquake practically toppled the church, revealing the sturdy Inca walls beneath.

Then, it was on to the Plaza de Armas.

 The high priest, the Seche, at the Plaza de Armas.

The Incas throne at the Plaza de Armas.

Then we all began the pilgrimage to Sacsaywaman where the Inti Raymi rites were to be acted out.
We, as well as others, arrived with our tongues hanging out since the site for the reenactment was 1000 feet above the city.

Local spectators.

Our seats couldn´t have been better. Right on the field at the Sacsaywaman equivalent of the 50 yard line. That is John on the far left trying to ignore David taking a picture.

Promptly at 1;30, the ceremony began.

The Siche (high priest) arrived early.

Then came the virgins of the sun.

Atahualpa´s wife arrived in a silver throne 

born on high by at least 12 bearers.

The transporteres of sacred chicha (corn beer) arrived.

Then came the Inca in his golden throne. The mighty walls of the fortress of Sacsaywaman can be seen in the background.

The high priest offers the sacred chicha to the sun.

And the Inca pours out sacred chicha to the Pachamama, the mother earth. A ritual still performed by many in the Andes when they take their first drink.

Then on to the ritual slaughter of a black llama especially selected for the rite.

The llama´s lungs and intestines are examined for signs as to how the upcoming year will play out.

The deer representation is hunted and killed.

The chief priest leaves first.

Then the Inca´s first wife.

And finally the Inca leaves, happy that the llama´s entrails have predicted a good year ahead.

The virgins of the sun dance by our superb seats.

 More virgins danced by as the ceremony ended. We were delighted by the whole show. It was well worth the price and David is happy to report to Christine that a real llama was not slaughtered.

David on the way back to town standing beside the massive Sacsaywaman fortress.

We were not alone on the way back.

There were temptations

of various kinds on the road back to town..