Blogs from Machu Picchu, Cusco, Peru, South America
May 29th 2012
Helloooo!!! We are currently in Cusco and it is really cool! Last time i wrote we were in Lima - this was a good city but not much to do and everything we seemed to do when we went was closed. One eve we went for a city tour and the taxi man charged us so much!! We met Sara´s friend from uni who is studying in Lima and we went out for food and a few drinks! I tried the local food which is cerviche - this is raw fish covered in lime its pretty rank! then we went to a bar with live music and the guy was so good! We have the local drink as well pisco sour and this has raw egg in it!! Is actually quite nice! We left the next ... read more
May 20th 2012
20.5.2012 MACHU PICCHU!! WOW!!! Left Aguas Calientes 6.20a.m. arrived at the entrance to Machu Picchu around 6.50a.m. which was just perfect. This place is unbelievable. When you see postcards sometimes when you get there it is a led down, exactly the opposite here, Machu Picchu is much more grander and spectacular than any postcard can ever show, you can see why people spend the whole day here. It is an exceptional and amazing place and not surprising it is one of the 7 Wonders of the World. We had a fantastic guide, Willi, who knew so much about the area. We walked up so many steps and along trails out of the Macchu Picchu area that we now need knee replacements !!! Alison who is with us couldn’t do all the areas it was too ... read more
Machu Picchu. Lost city of the Incas
Published: May 16th 2012South America » Peru » Cusco » Machu Picchu
May 16th 2012
I am writing these thoughts sat high above one the most incredible sights I have ever had the fortune to witness. I am at the Inti Punku 'Gate of the Sun' at 2500 mtrs high looking down below onto a sight that has bought a tear to my eye. The lost city of the Incas, Machu Picchu. 'the old mountain'. Today is up there with the best of my travels. My dive to the barrier reef, the mirror effect of Lake Wanaka the parachute jump at Mount Cook, South Island, New Zealand, standing naked under a huge waterfall in the mountains of Vietnam. What I am quietly looking at has quite literally blown me away. A village constructed on top of a mountain some 2400 mtrs above sea level, and a 400 mtrs from the valley ... read more
May 12th 2012
So i've seen beautiful pictures of Machu Picchu on google with mysterious fog roling around the hills like some kind of scottish moor. The classic shot on all of the posters from all over Peru must be the easiest picture to get considering the multitude of variations out there. Wrong! Aparently the dramatic meteorogical effect is frightened off by the hoards of tourists and and you have to wake up in the middle of the night just to sneak up on it without being noticed. With an unpleasant look on my face this was the situation we were briefed on in an irish styled Cusco pub. With this helpfull information we headed off. Hearded like cattle with the other eager shutter bugs onto a train for a 4 hour tour at just past walking speed along ... read more
On the trail of the ancient Inca civilization
Published: May 16th 2012South America » Peru » Cusco » Machu Picchu
May 10th 2012
" If you are travelling Chile David then you must cross into Peru and visit Machu Picchu" said my aunt Judith during our annual family Christmas get together. "why?" "because I never had the opportunity to go there and now I am too old to do so" she replied. "you must go on my behalf and report back" So there it was. My aunts word is the law and that was why I found myself up at stupid o'clock to get the bus to the check point and the start of the 50km trek to Machu Picchu (MP) and the lost city of the Inca civilization. Even though MP is one of the seven wonders of the modern world I had never heard of the place until a few years ago. A lead social worker, Richard ... read more
May 6th 2012
Having left La Paz unable to remember what a good nights sleep felt like, I spent a blissful few days recharging my batteries in Lake Titicaca. I started on the Bolivian side, in Copacabana. I decided to splurge and spend the shocking 25 quid for the nicest hotel in town, which was right on the lake. Tucking into trout (local speciality) and a glass of wine over dinner, I then headed to bed at 9, for a well earned rest! The rest was well needed, as the next morning I was up early for my boat to the isla del sol, and the 5 hour hike from the south to the north island. Unfortunately the island did not live up to its name, and when we arrived it was pissing it down with rain. My guide ... read more
May 1st 2012
Planning our trip to Cusco, the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu -- July 2012. "Our" means Rachel, Tommy, David and me. David and I are going to do day stopovers in Mexico City on the way down and back. &... read more
April 19th 2012
Tuesday 3rd April - Cusco A fairly non-descript day doing menial tasks such as laundry, giving the fraud department at Nationwide a piece of my mind in an effort to get back our 2 grand and booking tickets for the train and Machu Picchu. We also had some fun bartering with the locals for their over priced gringo souvenirs. Unfortunately the Real McCoy is closed on Tuesday so we were disappointed not to have fish and chips and instead I had to make do with an amazing cheeseburger after we reluctantly visited the obligatory Irish Pub found in every tourist hotspot which are a magnet for every annoying septic in town. Wednesday 4th April - Cusco to Ollantaytambo Our nice hotel receptionist man who takes his work a little too seriously was kind enough to extend ... read more
MAchu Picchu, Peru --- January 23 & 24, 2012
Published: April 18th 2012South America » Peru » Cusco » Machu Picchu
April 18th 2012
Machu Picchu, the lost city of the Inca's, was not really lost. There was a family living there when a boy led Hiram Bingham to the site in 1911. However it was Hiram who announced the site to the world and who was responsible for clearing much of the site which over the centuries nature had claimed back for itself. The extraordinary beauty with the impressive heritage of human accomplishment in a challenging location. The ruins are situated on the eastern slope of Machu Picchu (Machu Picchu means old mountain) in two separate areas -- agriculture and urban. The latter includes civil sector ( dwellings and canalizations) and the sacred sector (temples, mauoleums, squares and royal houses). Our journey to Machu Picchu was done on board the Hirma Bingham train. In itself traveling on this train ... read more
Pachacuti's Retreat - The City in the Clouds - Machu Picchu
Published: April 12th 2012South America » Peru » Cusco » Machu Picchu
April 7th 2012
In attempt to get to Machu Picchu on the road less travelled we were also going to be traveling on the road less known. Most people get there by catching a bus from Cusco to Ollanytambo then catching a train to Aguas Caliente, which is the town at the base of MP. But to make the trip a little more adventerous (read: significantly cheaper) we decided to catch a bus from Cusco to Santa Maria, a collectivo from Santa Maria to Santa Theresa, another collectivo from Santa Theresa to Hydroelectrica, then walk along the train tracks 3 hours until Aguas Caliente. Was this going to work? I was hopeful and Matt seemed confident. There was little information on times and availbility of collectivos but our hostel host gave us some information and we joined forces with ... read more
