Our next trip to the Sacred Valley was on Sunday in order to visit the market and the ruins of Pisac. There is a colorful weekly market which has two parts these days - the original Indian vegetable market and the newer touristy market. Both parts are worth-while visiting for both observing and shopping. The ruins are high above the village on a steep hill (the location selection was reminiscence of medieval European castles). The mountains of the Urubamba valley are very, very steep though. It is surprising how high and on which terrain one can find fields. The ruins contain more of the fine Inca stone-work, agricultural terracing and some well preserved remains of an Inca route, including a tunnel. Returning from the ruins through a "back trail" we were caught by surprise seeing rows and rows of old tombs on a hill-side. It gave to this very charming place another mysterious dimension.
On Tuesday, on our trip to Aquas Calientes and Machu Picchu, we stopped at another village - Ollaylatambo. To this place one can get by local busses. Further on, down to the jungle to Machu Picchu, it is only a train. Ollaylatambo is one of the best preserved Inca villages (with original layout, high-wall streets and some preserved stone houses). There are also ruins. Several battles of resistance against the Spanish conquistadors took place here as well.