Machu Picchu
Trip Start
Aug 30, 2008
1
11
64
Trip End
Oct 31, 2008
Aguas Calientes,
Peru
Monday, September 8, 2008
I met Guido, who´s Peruvian but has been living in Germany for the past several years on the local train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes last night. He was/is really friendly and (very) talkative, haha... He was great to hang out with, as well as his German friend Cora once she got out of a bit of a bad mood, she was really nice as well. I also met a Peruvian girl in my sacred valley tour, so we hung out as well. Then, as we were walking around in Machu Picchu, we met a really nice German girl named Jessica.
Well, back to the beginning, I suppose
Monkey and froggy at MP
. Since I´d never done it, I decided with Guido to walk up to Machu Picchu (which takes a bit over an hour or so), rather than taking the overpriced tourist buses that takes you there in about 10 minutes. It was really fun waking up so early, when we could barely see (we didn´t have flashlights), and approach the mountain by foot. It was absolutely beautiful to see the dark mountains around us shrouded in mist. As we crossed the river over to the Machu Picchu mountain side, it started to get a bit lighter and lighter as we climbed higher and higher. I was super excited and was trying to take some pictures and what not. We finally made it right around 6am with a shortish line of tourists that had come by bus to the entrance (I´d say about 95 or 99% of people take the bus). I was really nervous because I hadn´t bought my Machu Picchu entrance and was scared by Guido into thinking I wouldn´t be able to buy it, but sure enough I could, so that was good!
Then, we entered the glorious Machu Picchu, which can do no wrong. It was just amaaaazing to be amongs the first few in the ancient Inca citadel and just walk around gawking at all of the beautiful architecture and absolutely stunning panorama. It was soo nice and misty during the morning and nice and cool, so it was no problem (after the *tough* hike up the mountain to get to the entrance) walking around Machu Picchu
With Friends
. Guido and I, along with Jessica (whom we had met a bit eralier), got our reservations to climb Wayna Picchu (I´m sure I´m spelling that wrong) since only about 400 or so can climb per day. We got our reservation for 10am and walked around checking out the different amazing spots at our leisure, taking pictures with Llamas and doing a bunch of other fun touristy things and just loving the views.
At 10am we started our hike up Wayna Picchu which was *really* tough (at least for Jessica and me since Guido is younger and way more fit than us hehe). It was so worth it though, to see the cool ruins I had never laid eyes upon on the top, as well as the totally different view of Machu Picchu. The sense of triumph of having climbed the mountain was amazing too, as was the nice hour or so we spent relaxing and hanging out on the peak of that huge huge mountain you see everytime you see that Machu Picchu postard picture.
I swear I´ll put pics up as soon as I get to a decent internet cafe (back in Cusco).
Another thing was that I was first going to leave tonight at 9pm back to Ollantaytambo, but that would mean I was oging to have to try and get a bus or (really expensive) taxi back to Cusco at 11pm, reaching Cusco no earlier than 12.30 or 1am. Sooo I decided to just go and buy another ticket tomorrow for 2pm (I just go and buy it tomorrow) and that way I can sleep *really* well tonight after that crazy hiking today, and I can also go with Jessica to check out the waterfalls near aguas calientes and maybe take a bit of a swim as well.
OK, that´s definitely enough for today I think. Till next time! Amazing day! Seriously, wow! ok, that´s enough... byeee
PHOTOS
Comments
qué emoción!!
Me imagino lo emocionante de estar otra vez en Macchu Picchu. Cada vez que vas vuelves a sentir esa emoción de estar en un sitio tan imponente.
Gracias por compartir tu viaje, qué rico te sentirás haciéndolo.
muaaaaaaaaaaa