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Machu Picchu
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Cusco has experienced three main historical periods: Inca, Spanish Colonial, and modern times all have left their mark on this picturesque city. Much of the architecture in the central part of the city is Spanish, but some immaculately constructed Inca stone foundations still remain visible. The city is now dominated by flocks of tourists and locals seeking to make a buck pander everything from finger puppets to massages in an intrusive and annoying in-your-face manner. We stayed at Casa de la Gringa, a funky hippie hostel, in an attic room accessed by a ladder. The place was also home to three cats who were adept at climbing through our window for a visit and a snooze. It was nice to be in a classy and comfortable city after 3 weeks in Bolivia. Cusco´s popularity comes with it being the starting point for all visits to Machu Picchu. One way to see the ruins is by hiking the 3 day Inca Trail, but the popularity and limited permits available for this trek had left the trail booked solid until June. Not wanting to miss out on seeing the ruins, we bought train tickets to Aguas Calientes; a small town a few kilometers from the site. In an attempt to avoid as many tourists as possible, we planned to spend the night in town and wake up early to be at the gates when they opened. We hauled ourselves out of bed at 4:30 am, got our tickets and began the steep 8km hike. It was also possible to take a bus, but we opted for the more puritan approach. After an exhausting hour we reached the main gate and finally saw Machu Picchu with our own eyes. With distinct urban and agricultural areas, the ruins sprawl over the top of a mountain and have commanding views of the valley below. We spent several hours wandering the ruins captivated by the intricate stonework and complexity of the layout. We also climbed the steep winding Inca staircase to Wayna Picchu (temple of the moon) which overlooks Machu Picchu. Two things we can say about the Incas are they were not afraid of heights and they didn't mind a little heavy lifting. Machu Picchu is singularly one of the most impressive surviving human endeavors. Although perched in a most unnatural location, it seems to blend perfectly with its surroundings. We will end off here and leave the pictures to do the rest of the talking.
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