NAFPS Forum

I just visited UK and came across this story in an English paper. Pretty funny! All the best to those guys....

ANCIENT FERTILITY SITE A FAKE

The tempel at Chucuito in Peru is said to date from the empire of the Incas. This ancient fertility site, visited by millions of tourists each year,  is filled with 5 feet stone willies. The legend tells that Inca women used to visit the temple to cure infertility and to prey to their spirits.

The site is a firm favourite with backpackers who love to photograph themselves standing beside one of the 24 stone willies. New Age groups gather at the temple to conduct their own fertility rites.

But a South American journalist decided to investigate the story of this ancient temple and found to his amazement that the temple was built in....1993! When asking Natives living in the area, he was told that they had constructed some authentic-looking ruins and filled them with stonewillies thinking it would attract white tourists and people from New Age movements. They created the legend of the temple and now Chucuito has transformed itself from a backwater into a thriving tourist town featured on hundreds of tour operators´ itineraries.

The director or the National Culture Institute in Puno says "Well, the locals have created a myth. And it worked. At least they are not poor any more!???

That was funny! Can you remember which paper it was from, and which day?

Actually I read it in two papers, slightly different articles, but I saved the one with the photo of two tourists hugging a stone you-know-what...:))
The Sun, 18th February.

Got it, thanks Annika.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2005080452,00.html

The Sun's probably the most popular UK tabloid.

A google search of Chucuito fake turns up a lot of sites. Even Frommer's mentions it's a fake, so it's not like these Nuagers weren't warned repeatedly.

undoctored.co.uk/journal/index.php?p=44

constructedculture.newstrove.com/

www.frommers.com/destinations/ punoandlaketiticaca/2880027673.html - 34k -

www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2005080452,00.html

www.stimulus.co.nz/entries/3466/32840.html -

hundisnor.blogspot.com/

www.frommers.com/destinations/print_ narrative.cfm?destID=2880&catID=2880027673 -

www.letsgo.com/PEB/07-SouthernPeru-485

www.trippingontravel.com/ diary_10sep03_rest%20of%20peru.htm

Sounds like what we used to do back home with the spook light.    Anyone ever turn over an outhouse on halloween?

REH

That place keeps its place in history:

https://www.eyeofthepsychic.com/ullo/ (Even frauds find the place fraudulent.)

https://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/21/arts/design/how-real-is-that-ruin-dont-ask-the-locals-say.html
https://finaltransit.com/blog/andean-explorations-11-chucuito/

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/chucuito

http://www.slate.com/blogs/atlas_obscura/2014/04/01/the_penis_temple_of_peru_is_a_fun_and_phallic_hoax.html

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g2053396-d9715000-Reviews-Fertility_Temple-Chucuito_Puno_Region.html

Business as usual:
https://www.etsy.com/in-en/listing/458948502/phallic-fertilty-symbol-from-chucuito