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Published: February 11th 2009
The Lost City
The picture postcard view.Lesmahagow to Peru - Day13
Monday 28th January 2008.
Today was the day. The day to finally get to sit on the top of the world and look down on one of the most incredible creations of mankind. Machu Picchu. The lost City of the Incas. However, not so fast. Bring on small, cramped minibus - 4.30am rise, some fairly crabit travellers (including me!) and about an hour and half sitting in the back seat with no head rest, a very condensated window (which I was not touching!) and a backside raw from bumping in and out of every pot hole in the Sacred Valley. Then there was the train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes - although for this part we had booked the Vistadome, which was only a few dollars more than the backpacker train, but oh.... so much more comfortable and civilised. Another hour. Then the 25 minute bus journey up the hairpin bends to the magical place itself. And oh, what a sight. It is hard to describe in mere words the incredible feelings, emotions and sensations that grab you when you stand on that edge and take in your first view of the city of
The Way In
The main gate to the city Maccu Picchu. To be actually standing there, in real life, in person was such a privilege. And an experience that so few people will every be able to have.
It had been such an incredible two weeks of my life, and this was the climax to all that we had experienced. The two week journey had taken in lows beyond description, and such moments of joy and happiness. And then, to find yourself standing in such an awe inspiring place, despite everything, was a truly emotional moment.
I had seen first hand, poverty that I couldn't even imagine or comprehend. I had heard tales of terror and torture. I had walked through villages and towns filled with squalor and despair and disease; and yet here I was now looking down on one of the Modern Wonders of the World.
How do you put it all into perspective? Is that even possible? Time will answer that one.
A country full of so many contrasts. Beauty and ugliness. Joy and sadness. A life changing experience.
And so ends this journey. Back home the next day. Now for the next chapter....
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