Machu Picchu
We got on a bus the next morning around 6:30 in order to be some of the first people to Machu Picchu. After about a 20 minute bus ride up from Agua Caliente along steep switchbacks you enter the the city. It is not hard to see why this city was never found by the Spanish. The mountains enclosing the site are huge, and thick clouds can completely cover the area.
Most of the buildings are still completely intact except for what would have been the thatch roofs. The engineering is as impressive as any of the other ruins we have seen and the scenery makes the city even more amazing. It is to do the sight justice with just words.
After touring the city we climbed the tallest mountain overlooking the site, Wychu Picchu. In this picture it is the large mountain in the center. Our guide said it would was no problem, a 45 minute gentle climb. He lied to us again. The climb is anything but gentle. The stairs are so steep and far apart, cables had to be attached to the walls to help people with the climb. It was a very tiring 45 minutes, but the view is well worth it. From this height you are able to see the intended shape of the city. The Incas built each city in the shape of an animal when viewed from above. Cuzco is a a puma, Ollyatatambo is a seated llama and Machu Picchu is a bird with wings spread.
After above 4 hours in the city, rain started in and we moved back down the mountain. On the way down a small boys run straight down the mountain and meet the buses each time they comes around a switchback. The boys always beat the buses down the mountain. Like all unrequested entertainment in Peru they expect a tip when you exit the bus.
Later that afternoon we took a train back to Cuzco to finish out the tour.
We got on a bus the next morning around 6:30 in order to be some of the first people to Machu Picchu. After about a 20 minute bus ride up from Agua Caliente along steep switchbacks you enter the the city. It is not hard to see why this city was never found by the Spanish. The mountains enclosing the site are huge, and thick clouds can completely cover the area.
Most of the buildings are still completely intact except for what would have been the thatch roofs. The engineering is as impressive as any of the other ruins we have seen and the scenery makes the city even more amazing. It is to do the sight justice with just words.
After touring the city we climbed the tallest mountain overlooking the site, Wychu Picchu. In this picture it is the large mountain in the center. Our guide said it would was no problem, a 45 minute gentle climb. He lied to us again. The climb is anything but gentle. The stairs are so steep and far apart, cables had to be attached to the walls to help people with the climb. It was a very tiring 45 minutes, but the view is well worth it. From this height you are able to see the intended shape of the city. The Incas built each city in the shape of an animal when viewed from above. Cuzco is a a puma, Ollyatatambo is a seated llama and Machu Picchu is a bird with wings spread.
After above 4 hours in the city, rain started in and we moved back down the mountain. On the way down a small boys run straight down the mountain and meet the buses each time they comes around a switchback. The boys always beat the buses down the mountain. Like all unrequested entertainment in Peru they expect a tip when you exit the bus.
Later that afternoon we took a train back to Cuzco to finish out the tour.
posted by Terrell at 11:46 AM
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