Machu Picchu
Trip Start
Jun 07, 2008
1
22
34
Trip End
Sep 14, 2008
Cusco,
Peru
Saturday, August 2, 2008
After three nights, Lindsay and I fled Cusco to begin our trip to Machu Picchu. We opted to skip the expensive train ticket, and took a bus to Santa Maria, followed by a collectivo to Santa Teresa. In Santa Teresa, we got a second collectivo to a hydro-electric plant along a river, from where we hiked along the railroad tracks for about two hours to the town of Aguas Calientes. Total cost: about $14; total time: 11 hours.
The next day we hiked from the town up to the summit of Putukusi, which provided a sneak peak at Machu Picchu. It was a gruelingly steep 100 minutes to the top for us two enfermos
1) Trampin'
. When I got there I initially couldn't be bothered to gaze at the ruins below, instead I promtly plopped down in the shade and napped for 20 minutes. I was up at 5am the following morning, and lined up in the dark for the first busses into the park. There must have been at least 500 people in line before me, but we were all delivered to the entrance promptly. Watched the sun rise from my perch on a big rock above the ruins, where my reverie was thrice disturbed by other tourists asking me to move so they could take a photo from the spot I'd carefully staked out. "We have a group" said one. Oh, a group. I had no idea. By all means then. Yes, do strike another conquering pose with your country's flag in your outstretched arm. Yes, I have no doubt it's an original idea.Stupid of me to gripe about pushy tourists at the continent's biggest tourist destination you say? True enough. Enough grumpiness. I did what I felt was the minimum necessary amount of wandering around, and then found a nice quiet spot in the shade to lounge and read, with only the occasional curious llama to interrupt me. My thoughts on Machu Picchu over all? It's biggest asset is the dramatic setting. It pales in comparison to Angkor Wat in Cambodia, which although also very heavily touristed, is sprawling enough to provide ample opportunity to get away from the hordes and feel the history. I'm glad I went, but won't be rushing back any time soon.
Mucho Machu Picchu photos on flickr.
