Mystical Machu Picchu

  Machu Picchu, Peru
Wednesday, September 10, 2008

9am and the same driver picked us up at our hotel in Cusco - back thru the Sacred Valley to Ollyantambo to meet up with the group who had done the Lares Trek. 

Driving thru the valley again was no hardship that's for sure as in the early morning light it was even more beautiful and the huge mountains which were now purple in colour looked totally different coming from the opposite direction... yep top drive.

Vistadome train

Outside our hostal door!

Agnes Clientes

The 6 of us had lunch plus 2 more Aussies, Neil and Emma from Sydney who had tredded the Lares with the others. 2pm and we were off on the Vistdome train to Agnus Cliente which is the small town at the foot of Macchu Pichu - and a 20 minute bus ride up the mountain which we would take tomorrow morning.

Here's to tomorrow and MP!

The Vistadome train has the window ceilings like the trains did in Switzerland. It allows you to see the mountain peaks as the train travels througth the valley - beautiful.
A bit of a wander around Agnes Clientes when we arrived that arvo as its not much of a town - thriving due to its local but pretty rough around the edges. 

Then we all met for dinner before an early night.... tommorow morning wakeup call 4.20am yep 4.20am!  This was to get us on to the first bus up to Machuu Pichue in time for not only sunrise but also to beat the crowds.
 

5am bus lineup for MP

We were at the bus stop by 4.55 and in time for the 1st bus departure at 5.30am and we still missed out on the first bus but the 2nd bus wasnt bad going..(the busses que and take off continuously and there were dozens of people there by 5am plus the fresh banana cake sellers..hee) 
 

Watchmans Tower..where the good shots are taken

On getting thru the entrance we took off straight for the Watchmans hut for the postcard photo spot that is in everyones photo albumns.

Perfect weather for photos and next to no people yet... great.

Yep Here it is!

 We all wandered taking tons of shots as the clouds rooled softly in then out again.. changing the look of this amazing place every few minutes.. quite mystical especially with few people there.

Machu Picchu

Everytime you take a few steps the perspective changes and so its more must have photos...heee.. should just surrender though as you cant catch these sort of fantasy places on camera. 


At 7.30 we met with a young guide who walked us thru the site. He was great- interesting but not to dry and real entertaining so the 2 hours just fled.

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu

 

Machu Picchu

We wee all meting back at the hostel at 12 for lunch before the train and bus back to Cusco which was plenty of time to enjoy whatever.

Lunch and lots of talk after MP