There are many reasons to interview Manuel, from San Pedro de Casta, who worked during 9 years alongside Daniel Ruzo in Marcahuasi. His experiences and his anecdotes keep on coming, never ending, and those of us that had the opportunity to travel with him to the plateau to get to know the petrified sculptures know what a privilege it is (was).
Tourists that arrive at his guest house, whether Peruvian or from further afield, can enjoy his stories, his emotions and sadnesses, but sadly it is now impossible for him to accompany us to climb up to the sacred mountain. His hearing and vision are not what they used to be and bit by bit reduce further. This interview that he gracefully conceded me is a gift for all visitors that keep on asking for more and more about Marcahuasi
Don Manuel says : "When I go up to the plateau, it brings back many memories of Ruzo" (Photo by Andy Jefferson)
What did Daniel Ruzo say about what is Marcahuasi?
He said "Marcahuasi, for me, is a relic". He was amazed, until at night when he wanted to take some photos, he had a mule that walked all day, and he always repeated "With time, many tourists will come", and I didn't believe it. Now I realise that it will happen.
With respect to the Monument to Humanity, what did he say?
We know it as the Inca's head, but for Ruzo it was Monument to Humanity. He said that this isn't a natural rock formation - "Man has worked here" - He even brought French archaeologists to help him declare that his theory was correct.
Were the rock formations and the ruins important to Daniel Ruzo?
No. The ruins were not important to him. The rock formations, and the stones certainly were, because all day, travelling across every stone, with him mounted on the mule, and me leading it, from 6 in the morning, until 6 at night. We ate a cold lunch, only half an hour to rest, and then ready to continue!
The hut
"Here the doctor lived, and only I have the key. During the 9 years that I worked with him, and when he returned to Lima I remained here as guardian" Manuel remembers with nostalgia.
How was he with you?
At the start he treated me well. Once he took the French archaeologists, and in the hut where he lived he kept everything, and only I had the key. The driver walked in and took an apple, and for that he called me and released me without saying why. That night I left them and came to the town leaving him with the archaeologists.
Later the driver said to me "after listening to everything he just said to them 'go, go ...'". Ruzo said to him that if I leave him, then he loses all of his work "Manuel is the only person who puts up with everything I ask"
How was the behaviour of the tourists that arrived at your guest house?
They behave well. When they are peruvians they grab things, they take the blankets, and I have to be there to keep control. They're not tourists, better to call them backpackers. Not the foreign tourists, they take care of things.
The street where his guest house is (green)
When Julio Heart came (Argentinian), contracted by Daniel Ruzo, I worked with him for two years and because of that I have this guest house here. He guided me.
Of his book, of the photos of Daniel Ruzo, did you appear in any?
No, not one. Only in some photos do I appear, and after that he didn't give me the opportunity. Of course the figures I know, because I saw where he took the photos, I know the place, and the the exact time of day.
The cold starts to beat down on San Pedro de Casta, the darkness of autumn, and we say our goodbyes, and Manuel Olivares will continue arranging the hats of the people of San Pedro de Casta, and waiting for the tourists. With the desire to tell us everything, everything that he learned there on the sacred mountain, everything that he wisely inherited from Daniel Ruzo.
In the complete interview there is a lot more about Daniel Ruzo, about his relation with the rocks, San Pedro de Casta, and the relation with Manuel. The full version will appear in my book.
Read the original post (in Spanish)
Next Post: The Cliffs of Marcahuasu
Photos : John Ysrael Guevara