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Published: August 7th 2007
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It´s not to say that we didnt think Machu Picchu was going to be spectacular, but when something is built up so much and you have already dragged yourself up hundreds of steps in the sweltering heat to see lots of other Inca ruins, we began to think that Machu Picchu would be the same and we didnt want to be disappointed...well i can tell you, Machu Picchu certainly was not a disappointment...it was unreal, like nothing we´ve ever seen before.....
Some countries around the world are built up to have spectacular scenery, but for some reason, I don´t remember reading anywhere in the guide books about Peru´s scenery. It is by far the most beautiful place I have ever seen. Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu are surrounded by mountains which range from 2000 meters in height to 6300. The area is so lush and standing from the top of those mountains looking around at the scenery, with waterfalls and rivers flowing through valleys below is breathtaking! The photos cannot do it justice.
We worked out that gettinmg a tour to Machu Picchu would cost us the same as doing it ourselves so the tour was booked.
3 in 1
Machu Picchu Mountain, the gatehouse and the Inca main doorway.. We had to get up for 5am on tues morning, as we had a pick up at 6am to take us to the train station for the 4 hour ride to Aguas Calientes which is a little town (total tourist mecca) at the foot of Machu Picchu....The train ride was pretty eventful, wasn´t overly comfortable but it took almost an hour to get out of Cusco, due to the huge mountains you have to climb, the train would move forward up the hill, then roll back slowly climbing some more, then forward again and back...went on like that a few times until we eventually reached the top of the mountain and could chug our way towards Aguas Calientes...Again, the views are spectacular and you pass some Inca sites on the way....We had booked to go with one of the hundreds of travel groups that operate out of Cusco...was definitely a good idea! They picked us up and dropped us at the door of our accomodation, and we ended being the only two in the group, so we basically had a full guest house waiting on us hand and foot...every time we arrived back to our hostel, they had a table
Jenni at Machu picchu
Jenni at Machu picchu set for two with tea and bread and jam waiting on us. They made us our breakfast, lunch and dinner and even gave us packed lunches for the trip up Machu Picchu! We ate more than we have done in ages, as the food was excellent....
When we arrived in Aguas Calientes, the guide told us about this waterfall that we should walk to in the afternoon. It would take us about an hour and a half to get there and the same back and all we had to do was follow the train tracks to it. So as there wasnt much to do in the little town, we set off for the waterfall...David had the map so he was leading! After about an hour, the path beside the traintrack disappeared, we hadnt really passed any other tourists going to the waterfall and we were starting to approach a train tunnel. I said to David, theres something not right about this, I know Peru is probably not that worried about health and safety but I said I wasnt for walking through a train tunnel. We must have missed the turnoff for the waterfall so we turned around and headed
Wana Picchu
Wana Picchu mountain overlooking the "city in the sky" back to the town. It was only later that day when I was thinking that someone had said that you could see Machu Picchu from the waterfall and I thought that´s strange cos Machu Picchu is supposed to be right in front of us. Turns out we had been walking for an hour in the wrong direction up the traintrack! I was raging! Two paddies walking the wrong way up a track arriving at the train tunnel! The train had passed us as well and everyone must have known that we were walking the wrong way! Last time I ever leave anything in Davids hands!
The next day, our guide met us at 5am and we set off for Machu Picchu. We were arriving for sunrise and also to be there early to avoid the masses that would arrive in the afternoon...three thousand visitors a day! As soon as you pass the entrance, the shot of Machu Picchu that you see in every travel guide on Peru appears before you and it really was beautiful. So compact and intact! What makes it so special is the setting...it is surrounded by the sharp pointed peaks of mountains in every direction.
Sunlight
Machu Picchu at midday It is so lush and when its quiet, all you can hear are the birds and the river rushing through the valley below. How the Incas ever dragged all of those rocks up to the top of that mountain to build houses, I will never know! We picked our spot and waited for the sun to rise...it was beautiful! Our guide explained that on the 21st June, the sun rose at a particular point in the mountains and the sun would shine right through the first window of the sun temple for one minute. The Incas are famous for this, they build their temples and towns and have done so in a way that at a certain time and date, mostly Ive found the 21st June at sunrise or sunset, the sun shines right through certain windows alluminating certain religious points. How did they ever work that out and then build it to be like so. Not far from Machu Picchu was the Sun Gate. From here, on the 16th December, the sun rises and shines throught the sungate and directly in through the second window in the sun temple. They also have created certain water filled dents in the
ground which when you stand in front of, the sun reflects from the water, (you can see the whole sun in the water) and it blinds you.
Anyway, our guide gave us a tour for two hours around the site explaining all sorts of weird and wonderful ways that the Incas had built their site all in relation to astronomical features. After this, we were free to wander around the site ourselves and it really was fun investigating all of the different rooms and alleyways because most of the researchers have not been able to work out what most of the rooms were used for.
We then decided to walk to the sungate. It took us about 45 minutes to hike to the top of the mountain to the sun gate ruins. From there, the scenery was even more spectacular! All of Machu Picchu was visable, the surrounding mountains and rivers and the town of Aguas Calientes. I didnt realise that there are actually Inca ruins the whole way down the mountain from Machu Picchu and in the surrounding mountains. David wanted to climb Wanupicchu which is the famous mountain in the background of all the photos of
Guard house
Guard house through window at Machu Picchu Machu Picchu. However, it was a steep climb, basically up steps on all fours and there are times when you have to climb ladders to get up to it! It looked massive and I was already nackered from just climbing the steps around Machu Picchu so decided against it. Apparently there is a huge cave at the other side of that mountain which was also used by the Incas.
Had a really good day at Machu Picchu but then it was time to head back. We got the bus back down the mountain, packed our bags, had lunch in an excellent restaurant and headed for the train station. Everyone on the train was absolutely shattered. It got dark soon and after a while, we drifted off to sleep with the ebbs and flows of the train..........
We are off to Rio on Monday...cant wait...keep the messages coming...its good to hear from everybody at home..
Some videos are below...
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John,Pamela,James & Sarah
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Amazing
Amazing Scenery looks so fantastic. Love Jeni in the water dent u look like an Inca Princess. Glad everythiing is going well. Bye 4 Now