life-in-the-andes Photos

Life can be most difficult in the Andes. Long distances, high altitudes, wide stretches of dryland, the harsh climate and isolation – all of these are challenging for the descendants of the old Quechua population and the old Inca. The main occupation continues to be agriculture, and the same stepped terraces dug into the mountain by their ancestors are used. The locals also grow animals such as lamas, alpaca or vicunas. Besides meat, the main foods are potatoes, corn and beans. Originating on the shores of Lake Titicaca, potatoes are grown here in a sortiment of hundreds. They are preserved dry, for consumption over extended periods of time. Guinea pig dishes are highly praised delicatessen of traditional cuisine.

Besides housework, women also craft different traditional things, mainly out of wool or ceramic.