Today is the day we have been waiting for! Fortunately we will not hike the 4th segment of the Ancient Inca Trail due to my 2 falls several days ago, one a face plant into a muddy bog, which in looking back is kind of funny. That’s the only wet place we have seen. The second, a collision with a large rock after going too fast on a rocky downhill grade. Got lucky, it could have been very serious. Thank you, Peg. So, instead, we took a lovely train ride along a beautiful river through farmland with the tall Andes towering above us.
The small community of Machu Picchu is delightful. Very hilly, no cars, no taxis just wheel barrels! For one Solis, (3.2 equals a dollar) men pushed huge loads of, you name it: cement, propane tanks, cases of water, beer and wine. From this tiny town, we boarded a bus to travel a winding road to the actual beginning of the World Heritage UNESCO site. Once a site has this designation, no one is allowed to make any change to the site. Not even to make repairs or do maintenance. All the Inca ruins we have visited are designated UNESCO sites.
We spent 3 hours climbing up and down hundreds of stairs. I would like to have just sat quietly and observed. There were thousands of people on site many of which stood in line for hours to catch the bus. Fortunately, our guide knew this and got us there early. Ed got many great pictures which I will let speak for themselves. The majesty, history and genius of this place I cannot put into words. It had us so engrossed that we forgot to do a SPOT! Never a place more deserving.
The small community of Machu Picchu is delightful. Very hilly, no cars, no taxis just wheel barrels! For one Solis, (3.2 equals a dollar) men pushed huge loads of, you name it: cement, propane tanks, cases of water, beer and wine. From this tiny town, we boarded a bus to travel a winding road to the actual beginning of the World Heritage UNESCO site. Once a site has this designation, no one is allowed to make any change to the site. Not even to make repairs or do maintenance. All the Inca ruins we have visited are designated UNESCO sites.
We spent 3 hours climbing up and down hundreds of stairs. I would like to have just sat quietly and observed. There were thousands of people on site many of which stood in line for hours to catch the bus. Fortunately, our guide knew this and got us there early. Ed got many great pictures which I will let speak for themselves. The majesty, history and genius of this place I cannot put into words. It had us so engrossed that we forgot to do a SPOT! Never a place more deserving.
Back to the hotel in Ollantaytambo to collect our bags and then a very long drive back to Cusco to the same Motel we stayed in last week. Dinner was a glass of wine and a protein bar in our room!
September 13, Thursday
We have a free day! No driving, no guide, no ruins or Cathedrals. We really need it. It has been 24/7 for the last 15 days. Our heads are swimming with facts, sites, people, meters, kilometers and the Spanish language. We have been so fortunate to have great weather, everyday sunny and warm. We have good karma! Ever more in love and blessed. Ed has set up a massage for me this afternoon, here in our room. Strolled around slowly, sat in one of the town main plaza people watching, had a coffee and danish. Very relaxing. Tomorrow we will up early for a 6-8 hour bus ride to Puno, situated on the shores of Lake Titicaca.
Rock carving
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