Machu Picchu

  Machu Picchu, Peru
Tuesday, April 1, 2008

touching Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu llamas 7

posing at Machu Picchu 1

posing at Machu Picchu 4

posing at Machu Picchu 8

relaxing ON Machu Picchu

posing at Machu Picchu 6

Machu Picchu 8

Machu Picchu 5

Today  I  went to Machu Picchu.  What else can I say?  One of the new Seven Wonders of the World.  It was a moment I have been waiting for for a long time. The site was amazing and although I was in awe I felt that I was not able to fully take in the whole experience while being in its presences.  I am sure when I got back to work on Monday this moment will become even stronger than it already was.  It is a site I will always remember.  It was remarkable!  Thėse "primitive" people built an amazing city.  They began it about a thousand years ago.  They did it with no real tools.  They did it without the use of the wheel!  And then when Spain came and Francisco Pizarro destroyed the Incan civilization and all Incan places of importance were replaced with Spanish churches and Spanish control lasted 300 years, this place, Machu Pichu, was left unfound and untouched.  And there it sat for half a millenium until Hirim Bingim rediscovered it.

Machu Picchu train ride 2

Machu Picchu train ride 4

We started the day by waking up at 4:15AM and then took a train a four hour train ride that left at 6AM.  We made friends aboard.  The scenary was spectacular from overlooks of Cuzco to overlooks of small villages to sheer cliff faces and mountains that touched the sky.  And all the way in the train the Urubamba River followed us .

Machu Picchu train ride 2

Machu Picchu train ride 4

Machu Picchu train ride 6

Machu Picchu train ride 7

Machu Picchu train ride in 1

Machu Picchu train ride in 3

We joined up with a tour of a dozen and our guide took us all around.  He brought us to important places and explained the saignigēance of homes, the Temple of the Sun and also the Moon, and altar, the rock quarry and other places.  Every turn presented a spectacular view.  

When our tour finished Bram and I went for a lunch and had some more coca tea.  Then we headed back in and made a steep hike to an overlook.  This provided us with the view of the day;  the postcard picture.  Finally we headed back down and layed down on the grass terraces.  I layed there looking at this mighty site.  Before long the fatigue of the day had caught up to me and  before I knew it I was sound asleep; snores and all.  I woke up refreshed and never before had I awaken to such a magical site.  The park was also practically empty and the clouds hung ever so low in a complete 360 degree ring around us in the sky covering the majority of the mountains.

posing at Machu Picchu

posing at Machu Picchu 3

view at Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu bathroom

posing at Machu Picchu 8

relaxing ON Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu terraces

Machu Picchu ruins

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Machu Picchu in Peru 5

Machu Picchu llamas 2

Machu Picchu terraces 5

Machu Picchu in Peru 2

Machu Picchu ruins 1

Machu Picchu Sun Room

Machu Picchu ruins 2

Machu Picchu house on hill

Machu Picchu, Peru 5

Machu Picchu, Peru 4

Machu Picchu ruins, Peru

Machu Picchu ruins, Peru 1

Machu Picchu ruins, Peru 2

Machu Picchu, Peru 3

Machu Picchu, Peru 1

Machu Picchu window 4

Machu Picchu ruins, Peru 3

Machu Picchu ruins, Peru 4

Machu Picchu terraces 1

Machu Picchu ruins, Peru 8

Machu Picchu windows 1

Machu Picchu llamas 5

Machu Picchu llamas 6

Machu Picchu 8

Machu Picchu ruins, Peru 9

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Machu Picchu 5

Machu Picchu terraces 4

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Machu Picchu ruins, Peru 94

Machu Picchu 1

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Machu Picchu 3

Machu Picchu Sun Dial

Machu Picchu Hirim Binghim memorial

Machu Picchu in Peru 6

Machu Picchu in Peru 3

Machu Picchu in Peru

Machu Picchu ruins 4

Machu Picchu room 1

Machu Picchu ruins 5

Machu Picchu window 2

Machu Picchu, Peru 3

Machu Picchu window 3

Machu Picchu window

Machu Picchu window 9

Machu Picchu 4

At 5PM we took a train back to Aguas Caliente.  Bram and I walked around and enjoyed the sites.  This is certainly a backpackers paradise lined with shops, bars and restaurants.  After shopping we enjoyed some drinks at one place and then had an alpacca dinner at another location.

arriving in Aguas Caliente, Peru

arriving in Aguas Caliente 8

Aguas Caliente near Machu Picchu

Great day!