After nearly nine years at Adventure Life, it seemed silly I hadn't yet been to Peru. I've always wanted to see the ruins of the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, but more than anything, I had heard such great things about the food in Peru! Truly international cuisine, we had to check it out. So Monika and I set off on our next adventure!
Pottery, Museums (Julia Kocubinski)Our cab driver dropped us off outside the Spanish-style colonial building, Museo Rafael Larco Herrera, the private museum displaying artifacts from all across Peru, including gold and silver, ceramics, textiles and even an erotic collection. We walked through the outside doors to a walkway covered in bright flowers. We had decided to just go to the museum on our own, rather than have a guide with us. There were thousands of artifacts to see, and information displayed in each room describing the history of each collection.
As we entered the gold and silver rooms, I realized that even in ancient Inca times, it was all about the bling. One could decorate their whole body with the shiny metals, including earrings, nose rings, head pieces, and even clothing decked out in gold and silver. While they claim it was not just for the elite, I couldn't imagine the average person wearing this much of the precious metals.
We then entered the room that housed all the ceramics and artifacts that the museum had in their collections. It is one of the only museums in the world that allows visitors to view the entire private collection, and certainly the first I had ever seen. It was like being in an old library, with shelves stretching five to six feet above our heads, lined with bowls and cups and plates stacked as high and as far as you could see. Pretty impressive. I couldn't help but wonder how do the artifacts we saw on display in the museum make the cut? What makes one painted bowl more display-worthy than another?
No visit to the Larco Museum would be complete without a stop in the erotica room. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I have to say it was pretty interesting to see all the various artifacts and I was glad we saw it.
Clara Tort has been our Travel Advisor for Buenos Aires, then for Iguazu, then for Mendoza and Aconcagua Trekking, and then for Patagonia and Fitz Roy trekking. She has navigated with us through our travels, and now we are coming back for more- onto Machu Pichu and Peru.
Gus ORDONEZ
2 months ago
We have used AL for decades now to plan trips. Kassandra has been with us from the start and has never disappointed. She knows our family and our quirks and is always willing to fit the trip to us. This time we made her work for the booking because of family member schedules. It has all come together for a great Christmas gift for many families.
Kris Rowe
2 months ago
Great company. Good communications. Great accommodations, excursions, transport. Guide Elvira was spectacular along with transport, driver, Cesar and activities
Kathy S
3 months ago
Having done a trip in the past with Adventure Life, I found picking a trip and customizing it was a breeze and fit everything I wanted