South to Puno

We traveled south on the Pan American highway. This would take us over the alta Plano (high plain) and eventually into the Puno district as we went over the divide. At the continental divide we were over 14,000 ft.
Those Colorado 14ers are babies next to the Andes.

En route we stopped at an important Inca temple at Raqchi. It is where the rulers of the 12 districts would meet, make decisions about the empire and make sacrifices to Pachamama ( earth mother). The god of creation, wiracocha, was a name they also interchanged with Pachamama.
The Inca destroyed this temple themselves as they did not want the Spanish to get it. It is rumored that all the gold , silver and gems were thrown in the lakes. No one has searched as it is too sacred.

Of course there were people in traditional dress selling Peruvian made things.
1 & 4. Continental divide 14,000 ft
2 weaver at Raqchi
3. View from the bus
5. Temple column
6. & 10 Temple wall
7. Church in plaza at Raqchi
8. & 9 Women on plaza