After hiking around Machu Picchu and a day of rest and travel, I think we all realized just how exhausted we were. However, that didn’t stop us from hiking around Písac and climbing still more stairs. Písac is the site of Incan ruins that includes agricultural terraces, a citadel, a sun temple, and an astrological observatory. We hiked along the side of a large hill overlooking the Sacred Valley and the city of Písac in order to climb up to the Temple of the Sun. Once there, we had a panoramic view of the Urubamba River, which cuts through the valley along with many Incan terraces that are still in use today. Afterwards, we descended into the valley by route of time-worn, steep stairways but were rewarded at the bottom as we got to stroll through the famous Písac market to browse the local products.
It was a marvelous walk, and it was heartbreaking that as our bus pulled out of town, an artist followed us, trying to sell me a painting for 1 sol. As I fumbled for some coins, the bus left him behind. Sigh.