Holy Fricken H*#! aka Wayna Picchu and Machu Picchu

South America » Peru » Cusco » Machu Picchu
March 8th 2013

Published: March 9th 2013

Today started at 4:30 AM. My hike up Wayna Picchu, also spelled Huayna Picchu, was to start between 7 and 8 AM. They allow 200 people up in that time slot and 200 people up in another slot. I was determined to get up there before the rain. I had a quick breakfast in the hotel and was at the bus stop by 5:20. Heck, I was so early that I was on the 3rd bus up the hill. As we ascended the hill, the s... Read Full Entry

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Brendan Vermillion

bvchef

Well, through good timing and lots of luck, I am about to hit the skies again. It has been far too long since my last journey. As much as I love going to visit my family each year, the act of heading to the airport and climbing on a plane to the homeland lacks the edge, excitement and the element of the unknown that a trip abroad brings. As with the rest of the world, my life shifted and changed through the pandemic; however, it is time to set free Brenno, the traveler lurking just beneath my daily home persona. The next big adventure is a trip to the Galapagos Islands. This will once again i... full info

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9th March 2013

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

And now grasshopper, you understand......
Dave here......going to this special place and talking about it is "the Grand Canyon" theory. You can see pictures and hear about it all you like, but until you actually are there, you don't know how great it actually is. But now.....you understand....travel on, my friend. Please send our best to Tara.

9th March 2013

bvchef
Brendan Vermillion

Thanks Dave
You are so correct in that. I am looking forward to seeing the Grand Canyon of South America in a couple days. Tara and I will share a glass of wine in you and MJ's honor! Miss you two.

9th March 2013

liliram
liliram

Whoa!
I'm so jealous, Brendan. I have yet to strike MP off my bucket list, but this early, I think I'm scrapping any ambitious goal to climb waynapicchu. Proud you did though!

9th March 2013

bvchef
Brendan Vermillion

Thank you Liliram
I have wanted to do this for many years and didn't realize it is now a New 7 Wonders of the World. I hope you make it down here to Peru. I am loving it. And thank you for the comment!

9th March 2013

Tammy Crozier
non-member comment

I feel as if I were saddled onto your back ... I'd have to be to keep up, as I'm no gazelle
Thank you for sharing yet another tale from the book of your world travels. I too have watched many programs on Machu Picchu and now thanks to your check book not mine, I've the next best thing to being there myself, a dear friend being there. Admittedly, I teach 2nd grade, and our vocabulary is one of it's own, but I say whisp; to be mysterious and romantic, whispy is an adj, and whisping is presence tense verb of whisp. Love you !!

9th March 2013

bvchef
Brendan Vermillion

Oh Tammy
I am still laughing at your comment title. There is a story in the gazelle thing (and it involves lots of wine, a hot tub and snow in Lake Tahoe) I'm glad you are enjoying the blogs. Although I love to travel alone, I love having my friends with me through my blogs. Love you too.

10th March 2013

Ali
Ali Watters

So of the 365 places...
... where would you put Machu Picchu, top 10? top 50? great to read your blog and see the photos.

10th March 2013

bvchef
Brendan Vermillion

Thanks Ali
I would have to say top 15. It is pretty amazing. Thanks for reading!

10th March 2013

Home and Away
Bob Carlsen

Thanks for giving blogging a priority in this amazing place...
I guess I will have to give up on the idea of climbing Waynapicchu...I'm a bit more portly than you and would never make it through the cave entrance or exit. But I appreciate that you took the pictures.

10th March 2013

bvchef
Brendan Vermillion

Thanks Home and Away
I like to do the blogs as I am traveling. It keeps my friends and family updated and makes it easy for me to make the book when I am home. That entrance is pretty small. Several hikers had to take off their backpacks to make it out. For someone who is severely claustrophobic, such as myself, it was a bigger challenge than some of the steep rock stairs.

10th March 2013

Kashmere
Jackie Ganiy

Sigh
Just sigh, Brendan. I wanted to say something clever but there are no words.

10th March 2013

bvchef
Brendan Vermillion

Sigh is Quite Enough
Sometimes that is all one can say. Thank you.

10th March 2013

taracloud
Tara Cloud

Wise choices and great to meet you!
It was great meeting you last night--my first TBer in person, and thanks for bringing the Peru book! I so admire your choices--getting up early to have MP to yourself, and also buying that fabulous Nikon rather than sleeping in the fancy hotel. You took some great photos with your toy! Also, everyone who's ever climbed Waynapicchu has said it's a bear--good for you!

10th March 2013

bvchef
Brendan Vermillion

Great to meet you too!
Thank you Tara, it was great to meet you too. You are my first TBer I have met while traveling. It will be a special memory. Hope you enjoyed your day here.

10th March 2013

Ted
non-member comment

Zane Gray?
Hi B, couldn't help thinking of Zane Grey reading the first part of your blog. So indepth with the descriptions. Really enjoyed the blog and all of the pictures. Would love to be there with you. Although, if the opening felt small for you there isn't any way that I could fit my big carcase in there. Thanks for taking us along via your blog. T

10th March 2013

bvchef
Brendan Vermillion

Now that is a compliment
Zane Gray was quite a writer. I am glad you are enjoying the blogs. Not saying you couldn't make it through, but it might be a tight squeeze.

11th March 2013

RENanDREW
Ren & Andrew

steep vs sheer drops
Hey Brendan, really enjoyed your description of climbing Waynapicchu. At some later date I'll need to get the nitty gritty of how sheer the drop was on the climb up. Looking forward to more Peruvian tales!

11th March 2013

bvchef
Brendan Vermillion

Thank you so much
I am glad you enjoyed it. Yes, when I am back home, please message me. I will be happy to give you any of my first hand observations of things. They may not be what the guide book says, but will be what I actually thought. And thanks for the comment!

11th March 2013

Anastasia78
Anastasia78

I quite literally love this entry.
Great writing and beautiful photos. Yes, you made the right choice with the camera. Your description makes me want to go back. Before taking off on this adventure, did you consider doing the Inca Trail? Just curious. Can't wait to read what's next!!

11th March 2013

bvchef
Brendan Vermillion

Thank you Anastasia
I feel I made the right choice. And thanks for the compliment. It is easy to write when swept up in the awesomeness of it all. To be honest, I did not look into the Inka trail at all. With the amount of time I have to travel, I didn't want to spend more than a couple days in each place. Did you hike it?

11th March 2013

Janie
non-member comment

You are right, you are SO NOTan Inca in a past life!!
Ok, I was practically crying at your comment about not being an Inca...no hon, you weren't and neither was I, no matter how much wine we have consumed in the past, our imaginations would never take us there!!! I love ALL of the pictures. You definitely made a much better deciison buying the camerra than space in a place where you would have had your eyes closed part of the time. Glad to hear it is going well!! Can't wait for the next installment!! Love you!

12th March 2013

bvchef
Brendan Vermillion

Now I am laughing too
Thanks Janie. I may have been a lot of things in a past life, but you are right, an Inka was never in the equation. Loving the camera so much, so yeah, good choice. Love you too!

12th March 2013

Jackie in Vancouver
non-member comment

Que lindo!
Hola Brendan! Amazing shots! Some of my faves are in the Manchu Picchu, Cusco & Uros Island/Lake Titicaca albums. Looks like you've had many a blue sky. Hopefully I'm now following you.... For some reason TB isnt all that mobile-friendly...not sure if my subscription was accepted. (I'll find out I guess!) Enjoy the second half+ of your adventure!

12th March 2013

bvchef
Brendan Vermillion

Mui Lindo
Thank you Jackie, I will check to see if your subscription came through and add you if it didn't. I will be out of internet access for today, so it may be a bit. Thank you for following and for the comment!

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Holy Fricken H*#! aka Wayna Picchu and Machu Picchu

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