Monday, September 3, 2012

Peru: Machu Picchu

 
Yes, Flat Stanley, traveled with us!
Settling into our
seats on the train that would take us to Machu Picchu
 
 

View from the train as we followed the
Urubamba River.
 

 





The town where we spent the night
  
 
 

We moved quickly to put our belongings away so we
could catch the bus that would take us to the
City of the Incas

 



Mystical comes to mind to describe this incredible site. And, mist-ical will do, too, as the clouds came in rather quickly with much rain.

 
 
 
 

People share the stairs with llamas.
 

 
No cement used in any of the stonework
 
 
 




 
The rain poured so we went to the only lunch spot within
Luckily, our tickets included the meal so we didn't
have to stand in the ever-lengthening line that formed.
In my opinion this meal ranks at the bottom of our
Peruvian experience as it was a buffet feeding frenzy...
BUT, only one less-than-wonderful hour or so
in two weeks isn't bad at all!


 
View from the room
 
As much as I love listening to running water,
waves, rain...the loud roar of the
Urubamba forced us to close the windows
for sleeping.
 

Recycling/reusing in action
 


 
 

The next day....

 
 





 

 

 
 
 
After meeting David, Ritchie, and Maryellen along the way,
I headed toward the Inca Bridge to meet Flint who
had visited the Sun Gate early in the morning.
 
At the beginning of the Inca Bridge trail, there is
checkpoint with a book that all hikers must sign when
they begin and end the walk.
 
Now this was the first time that I had signed my new
age. What a rude awakening!!! Could this be me on
the page/trail with all these 20-30 year old people?!
For a few minutes, I felt a bit old!
 

A trail marker

 

See how narrow this trail was!
 
As I planned this trip, I thought my only regret would be
that we didn't walk the Inca Trail. After seeing the heights
and widths of some areas, I only regret it a little.
 
I read Turn Right at Machu Picchu upon our return, and 
thoroughly enjoyed the author's adventure without having
to experience 'The Trail' myself. If you have any
interest in this area and its history, please read this fascinating
and entertaining book.
 

Meeting Matt and Christine on the trail
 
 
Deb and Kathleen
~ one of my favorite pics ~
 
After going back into town, we wandered around, tasted cuy (guinea pig),
ate ice cream, bought souvenirs, and stopped by the Inkaterra before our train ride
back through the valley, bus to Cusco, and finally to laundry sorting
and a sound sleep in Cusco.

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