TrekHound.com

 

Photo Credits: TrekHound.Com

Think it’s a cake walk to take a day trip to Machu Picchu? Check out this timeline.  

Up at 5:30 a.m. to get dressed, check out, get bags registered for storage and be outside for the 5:45 pick up. Maluska from Wari Tours showed up and we were off to the station for the 6:15 train to Aguas Calientes. The journey took about 4 hours with stops and starts when the hills got challenging for the engine. We were sitting across from a Spanish couple who were traveling for a few months as well, and passed the time chatting and swapping travel stories.

Next, off the train to meet up with our predetermined guide, Julio and to catch the bus. From here, it would be just a thirty minute ride to something we have been waiting years to see, Machu Picchu. The road is steep with few to no guard rails and many times we met another bus coming back down.

On the outside edge looking straight down, all I could think is “Thank God the roads aren’t soft and muddy today, or we’d be toast.” But, the scenery is beautiful and as we continue to climb further into the clouds I forget about the danger and begin to hum the theme song from Indiana Jones with David. It’s just too breathtaking for words up here.

Not quite to the top, we round a corner and glimpse our first peek at a corner section of Machu Picchu. I begin to feel the magic. Suddenly, emerging out of the forest on what appears to be a set of ancient stone steps is a young boy dressed in traditional Incan attire and waving in the mist. Did I imagine him?

We  continue on to the top where we exit the bus and start on the trail toward the entrance. We come upon a stone cottage and walls, with steps leading further up. But first, our guide takes us behind the cottage to a precipice overlooking the whole city.

The overall city above . . . with David below.

It’s the classic Machu Picchu photo opportunity, although there are several more we will have this day. The surrounding mountains rise up and drop off, just like the one we are on. So while you are surrounded by landscape, you still maintain the feeling of floating in the clouds. It’s indescribable.

Some more Machu Picchu pics.

Further into the tour, the guide touches upon Incan astronomy and how it relates to their religion and agriculture. By the time we reach the enormous granite sundial, David is in hog heaven. While we are there, there is a rock slide on one of the surrounding mountains. It sounds like a rolling mass of thunder, yet the sky and clouds appear serene.

A few more shots of the city in the clouds . . .

Many times as we are climbing down ancient stairs on the edge of the city, I am struck anew with the feeling of being at the top of the world. . . and it’s a long way down from here. Below are a few more of the images from our magical day at Machu Picchu. While image processing is challenging on the road (various internet cafes with various speed capabilities and modern equipment access), we will do our best to get a full slide show up as soon as we can.

A mama llama with her brand new cria on the grounds of Machu Picchu. The baby was born basically as we were arriving, so it’s less than an hour old at the time of this photo.

Another cloud city photo above . . . with Myscha below.

After such a spiritual day, we just couldn’t face the crowded tourist train back to Cuzco so soon. We wanted to stay as close to this magical place as we could. That meant a night at Aguas Calientes, the little hot springs town at the base of the mountain.

We have yet to see any automated transportation besides the trains in and out of the town, and the large buses that are strictly for climbing the mountain to reach the ruins.  Everything else appears to be on foot, with goods for the stores being towed by dollies and wheelbarrows.

Aside from the sounds of daily life and music, there is nothing  but the sound of the jungle and the huge rushing river, which drowns out almost all other sounds. (This is fabulous to fall asleep to.)

We get settled into our hostel, grab a quick dinner and stroll the market. Myscha has a Thai massage booked for seven and David wants to track down an internet cafe where he can at least get a few pictures sent out to family and friends. It’s been a long day, and we hit the hay early.

A rock formation by the train drop off at Aguas Calientes.

Myscha bead haggling in the market for our friend, Sabrina.

Posted on January 26th, 2007 by Myscha Theriault
Filed under: Trips and Destinations