Vestiges of the Arctic
Pisac, Peru 2003
I was struck by the gentle demeanor of the people of the Andes and this young man’s face is the epitome of gentleness. He wore an unusual tribal costume that reminded me of an Eskimo’s fur parka. His high cheekbones and almond eyes make me think that his ancestors crossed the Bering Straits from Siberia to the Americas.
Quecha Portrait
I was surprised to see these Asiatic countenances. The profile of the man below is what I expected to see.
Here is the complete portrait of the young man whom I imagine wears a shaman’s outfit…those long sleeves and the grasses around his ankles…what does it all mean?
Quechua Portrait
The man on our right has his cheek packed full of coca leaves. Vendors in the market sold the leaves packed in cellophane bags. The leaves act like caffeine. A person who had walked miles through the mountains from their village to Pisac was probably exhausted. Chewing the leaves is their version of a cup of coffee.