As we made our way through the Sacred Valley from Cusco to Ollantaytambo, we stopped for a couple hours at a Planeterra-supported women's weaving co-op. It was a beautiful and humble village, nestled in the country side in the lush mountains. The colors of the buildings and clothing of the people painted the scenery with bright contrast. We met women who make a living by making traditional weaving textiles, and learned about their different dyeing techniques and the meanings behind the motifs. The alpacas that the women used (for their fur) for the weavings were all hanging out nearby, waiting for the next visitor to hand feed them some grasses that the women were passing out.
When I was there, I felt like I wanted to live there for a month or two and experience the simple life. Sometimes I really wonder what the appeal is in living with such stress just to make money. Places like this remind me that I desire a well-balanced, good-quality life. Living in the city sounds fun for now, but in the end I believe we are meant to be in nature, because we are indeed a part of it, not apart from it.
