Machu Picchu

Well we finally made it to what we thought would be the highlight of our trip. We can't say it is the highlight as everything we have seen so far has been spectacular! Machu Picchu is another marvel as the 7th wonder of the world.

Again the morning started early as we caught the 7:45 train to Aguas Calientes which is situated below Mchu Picchu about 12 kms via very winding road to the site. I don't know how Bob and I did it but we lucked out as we had the front seat looking forward out the train window. I guess that is what happens when your last name starts with B!!!! We really did have wonderful seats, we were able to take a number of pictures without obstruction other then the window. It was raining as we left but but the time we made it to Aguas Calientes the sun was shining. We sure have been lucky when it comes to weather.

We took our backpacks (our suitcases are waiting for us back in Yucay) to the hotel, had a Banu (bathroom) break and off we went to catch the bus up those 17 switchback to the site. There are no roads into Machu Picchu, the buses had to be brought in by train. I had my head buried in Bob's shoulder most of the way up and I was worse coming down.

Once there the site is awesome, it is indescribable! To realize that this site was constructed on top of a mountain how they did it is a marvel. The site was pretty well in tact with only about 30% of it having to be reconstructed. There is one temple that is starting to fall over as a result of all the tourist but there is no way they can lift the rocks to fix it, unless they come up with money and man power as they will never get equipment up there.

We walked around the site for 3 hours plus. Up, down, around, up, down and more up until finally we were heading down again. Six members of the group continued up the Inca trail to the Sun Gate (where the morning sun hits the stones), which was another 3/4 hour up and about 1/2 hour down. We were not part of the 5, instead we headed back down into town for the afternoon.

That evening we had the most delicious dinner at a French Peruvian restaurant. The meals we have had are really out of this world.

Most of us did not have a good night sleep as we had eaten too much for dinner plus our legs and feet were aching.

The next morning we had on our own. Were we ever glad that we had been to the site the day before as it poured rain most of the morning. Bob and I wandered around town taking pictures and then went back to the hotel were we waited with the rest of the group for our train ride back to Yucay and on the bus to Cuzco. I have added a couple of pictures taken from the bus from Yucay to Cuzco to show the fields, a little bit like the foothills of Alberta.

We have a lovely hotel here, which we are all delighted with as we will be here for 3 nights. Again another wonderful meal and off to bed