This second picture is taken from the same location as the picture above, the ancient ruins of Pachacamac, but facing the Pacific Ocean. The River Valley has been continuously inhabited for over 2,000 years by different peoples and was considered a holy site by the Incas who arrived to the area in the 15th century. Incas traveled to Pachacamac to consult the great oracle and the two islands seen in the picture above were considered sacred.
Legend tells that a the god Cuniraya fell in love with the beautiful princess Cavillaca and impregnated her by having her eat a fruit he prepared. When a handsome son was born, Cavillaca invoked noblemen to determine who the father was. The god Cuniraya attended the gathering disguised as a beggar to conceal his identity. When Cavillaca asked her son to approach his father, the young boy went to the beggar.
Cavillaca was so embarrassed she immediately grabbed her son and began to run towards the ocean from the high Andes. Cuniraya was unable to stop her. When reaching the Pacific, they continued running until they drowned and were transformed into two islands. Cuniraya is the larger island while her son the smaller one.
The Spanish arrived to Pachacamac early in their conquest of the Inca empire in the 16th century. Above are the remains of the Temple of the Sun and below a partial reconstruction of the temple of virgins or mamaconas which were all considered wives of the emperor of the Inca empire, who in turn was considered the son of the sun.
Finally, a picture of the Cathedral of San Pedro de Lurin where I was baptized and celebrated my first solemn Mass with the church packed with mostly family members. Built in 1703, it is a beautiful example of Spanish colonial architecture.
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