Travel Writing Excerpts

The Ingapirca Archaeological Complex in Ecuador

Built on top of an ancient Cañari ceremonial rock, the Incan Temple of the Sun is the most significant structure at Ingapirca, Ecuador’s most important Inca site. On the solstices, sunlight would shine through the center of the doorway of the small chamber at the top of the temple. The Inti Raymi’rata, or “Sun Festival,” is a traditional religious ceremony of the Inca Empire in honor of Inti, the Sun God. The festival takes place on Inti Raymi, winter solstice in the southern hemisphere, which marks the beginning of the new year. Since 1988, the Sun Festival has been held each year at the June solstice with dance groups gathering to demonstrate their traditional dances.

In 1949, whitewater enthusiasts launched six boats into the raging Arkansas River at Salida, Colo., for a 57-mile race that the boaters described as “an invitation to death.” While no one died that day, only one boat arrived intact at the finish line. Organizers shortened the course to 45 miles for the second running of FIBArk – First In Boating the Arkansas River. Ten boats raced, but once again, only one boat finished. For the third race, organizers set the finish line in Cotopaxi, 25.7 miles downstream. Ten of 11 boats finished the race that year, and the course remained the same for 69 years. Thanks to FIBArk, Salida became known as the birthplace of whitewater sports in the U.S.