The Traveling Ridleys: Sunday Journal

After arriving in Peru, our guides had arranged for us to visit a high mountain textile factory on our first full day.

We arrived and were just starting to feel the effects of having come from sea level (both in Europe and in Lima) to over 12,000 feet. That’s when our hosts appeared with a tray of muña mint tea to help us acclimate.

We learned about the differences between alpaca, llama, vicuña and guanaco wool. We touched and felt the relative softness of each. We saw the way they make the all natural dyes, from area plants, berries and minerals, to turn the wool vibrant colors and admired the traditional and modern artworks they make with it.

We fed the llamas and alpacas as we hydrated and acclimated.

Then we shopped. And shopped. Sweaters, hats and gloves. It was hard to stop. But stop we did before heading back to our transport to ride to our hotel at the low altitude of 9,500 feet at the floor of the Sacred Valley.

An unforgettable intro into our Peruvian adventure.