2012 EASTER PAINTING VACATION

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Painting, Machu Picchu & Photography, Andean Philosophy

Program

( Open this program in pdf format)

April 2nd: Arrival in Cusco

Reception at the airport and transfer to your hotel. Time to rest and get acclimatized (3,500 m. above sea level). In the afternoon, we'll visit the ancient city of Cusco, as well as the Temple of the Qoricancha (The Incas' Temple of the Sun). (Lunch)

April 3rd: Cusco - Chinchero - Moray - Salineras

In the morning, we'll leave Cusco to go to Chinchero; a very picturesque village known for its precious hand-woven fabrics and fine handicraft.

Visit of the colonial baroque church built on top of the foundations of an Incan palace. We'll also explore the Incan archaeological complex located next to the church.

After our picnic, in a green area surrounded by Incan temples, we'll go on with our excursion to Moray, known for its impressive concentric circular benched terraces.

After dinner, brief introduction to the Andean philosophy: Conception of Nature and Reality that is, the Magical and Religious World of the Andean Indigens. Documentary movie:

Q'ero - The Last Incan Ayllu (English or Spanish version) 50 min.

The Q'eros community, in the Peruvian Andes, is famous for maintaining its indigenous traditions, such as music, hand-woven textiles and spiritual practices which are no longer used in other Andean communities.

We will see their annual cycle of musical rituals and how they use music to express their deep sorrow and the adaptation of indigenous people to urban society.
(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)

April 4: Excursion to the Indigenous Community of Canchacancha

Take pictures, meditate and draw sketches
Early in the morning, we'll leave the village of Huaran, to head to the indigenous community of Canchacancha, the lifestyle of which is still very traditional. During our 3 to 4 hour hike, we will observe an incredible biodiversity and varied microclimates.

The intense changes in the flora and fauna invite us to stop, observe and enjoy them, as we discover these surroundings. Through meditation and concentration, we will submerge in nature's beauty, in order to capture landscapes and draw sketches. On the following day, that interiorization and the sketches will be useful to us, to set the impressions we captured in Canchacancha, painting them.

After our picnic in the middle of nature, we will visit Canchacancha, and around 5:00 p.m., we'll be back in the village of Huaran, from which we'll return on a private transportation, to the hotel, in Qoya. Dinner at the hotel and conclusion of the day, with a movie evening:

Kukuli (English, Spanish and Quechua versions) 90 min.

Kukuli is the first movie made in Quechua and it has won several international awards. The movie tells us about a young indigenous girl called Kukuli (Dove) who loves travelling adventures and participates to the festival in the village of Paucartambo, where the Ukuku; a mythological bear-man kills the young woman's boyfriend and kidnaps her. (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)

April 5: Painting Workshop - Calca

Introduction to the chosen painting technique
- Paint with aniline which is dyeing pigments used in the colourful indigenous textiles, as the result of the watercolour paintings is vibrant and lively.
- Paint with earth pigments which exist in a variety of colours, in Peru, as the paintings made with the application of earth pigments, express harmony and tranquillity.
We'll set in painting what was assimilated during the excursion to Canchacancha, and our paintings will reflect our own and authentic expression of what we have experienced during the excursion. Teas and coffees at will.

After dinner, ritual with a Paqo: The Paqo is a specialist in Andean ritual and ceremonies, who will perform a ritual called “Despacho” or offering, the function of which is the communion with nature and the Cosmos, as well as the gift of an offering to the Apus (Mountain Deities) and Pachamama (Mother Earth), in an act of reciprocity.

April 6: Holy Friday - Christ and Human Sacrifice

We will visit the nearby village of Calca, where, in a traditional way, the local inhabitants compose flower carpets for the Procession of the Crucified Christ. In the afternoon, painting workshop at the Apulaya Cultural Center, based on the following theme: The concept of death and fertility in the Andean Cosmo-vision.

In Peru, Christ's passion and death are the central celebration, while his resurrection remains on a second level. The reason for that practice is related to human sacrifices, during the pre-Incan and Incan periods, as it is very difficult to understand these rites, from the Occidental perspective. However, pre-Colombian art opens a very interesting and different perspective towards death. Today, several Andean communities still practise ritual combats to death, on specific dates fixed by their cosmo-vision.

In concordance with the Peruvian tradition, we will also enjoy a lunch composed of 12 dishes (One dish for each one of Christ's apostles).

In the afternoon, we'll take a walk to admire the flower carpets on the village streets. In the late afternoon, we'll assist mass in the local colonial church and we'll also appreciate the Procession of the Crucified Christ. Return to the hotel, in Qoya, to have dinner.

Documentary movie: The Tupay in Ch'iaraje will show us the context and conception of these ritual combats.

April 7: Art in Cusco, from pre-Incan to Modern Art

We will visit the Incan Museum, in the ancient city of Cusco, and the exposition we'll see is composed of archaeological pieces from the pre-Incan, Incan and Colonial time periods. Lunch in the neighborhood of San Blas.

In the afternoon, we'll visit modern art expositions in Cusco's City Hall, in the Superior School of Art and Art Gallery of the Tupaq Yupanqui Cultural House.

April 8: Pisaq

After an Easter breakfast, we'll head towards Pisaq, to visit its archaeological complex. On top of a rocky mountain, the Incas built a city composed of houses, palaces, temples, mausoleums and even a cemetery with hundreds of tombs. After exploring the complex, we'll walk back down to the village, crossing Incan benched terraces and water canals.

After lunch in a local charismatic restaurant, we'll visit the colourful handicraft market which, on Sundays, is full of stands. At dusk, we'll return to Qoya.

April 9: Philosophical Tour to Ollantaytambo

After the Easter breakfast, we'll go to Ollantaytambo which, in Incan times, was an important military, administrative, religious and spiritual center. The tour will be based on Andean philosophy, and this will facilitate a better understanding of the indigenous cosmo-vision which is reflected in the archaeological complexes. We'll have a picnic lunch in a quiet place.

Draw sketches, paint and take pictures, inspired by the different ceremonial temples located outside the tourist circuits. Dinner in the charismatic village of Ollantaytambo. (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)

April 10: Archeo-Astronomy in Machu Picchu

Early in the morning, excursion by train to Machu Picchu which was declared as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, and is located in a magic and hallucinating place. We'll explore the archaeological complex, accompanied by our guide who will show us the results of his research and discoveries about Incan astronomy in the Sanctuary of Machu Picchu. We'll enjoy our stay in this Sacred Sanctuary, with full quietness, and in the late afternoon, we'll return by train to Oallantaytambo, where a private car will pick us up to go back to Cusco. (Breakfast and Lunch)

April 11: Cusco - Saqsaywaman - Qenqo

In the course of the morning, we'll visit the imposing Archaeological Park of Saqsaywaman which looks like the work of titans. It is calculated that between 20,000 and 40,000 men might have participated to its construction which lasted about 70 years. For that cyclopean construction work, the Incas used granite monoliths that could weigh up to 60 tons. Afterwards, we'll move on to Qenqo, where the Incas celebrated numerous cults and we'll appreciate altars and ceremonial carvings. In the afternoon, free time. (Breakfast)

April 12: Cusco - Departure

Transfer from the hotel to the airport or bus station. Accompaniment and assistance until boarding time. (Breakfast)

Includes:

1. Reception and assistance in Cusco's airport.
2. Transfer from and to Cusco's airport, with private vehicle.
3. Hotel in Qoya, Cusco and Ollantaytambo.
4. Meals as indicated in the itinerary
5. Workshops, didactic and audiovisual material, painting utensils and materials.
6. Private guide.
7. Tourist Pass: entrance ticket to the archaeological sites in Cusco and Sacred Valley.
8. Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu.
9. Private transportation to the places mentioned in the itinerary.
10. Vista Dome category train ticket: Ollantaytambo - Machu Picchu Pueblo - Ollantaytambo (In case you would like another category, please consult us).
11. Coffee breaks and drinks offered by Apulaya - Center for Andean Culture.

Does not include

1. Reception and assistance in Lima (Consult us if you want it).
2. International and domestic flights, as well as their respective taxes.
3. Phone calls, drinks not indicated in the itinerary, dinner drinks and personal items.
4. Any service or item which is not mentioned as being included.
5. Taxes for credit card payments.
6. Travel, cancelation and other insurances

(Open this program in pdf format)