Machu Picchu

Went by bus to Ollantaytambo where we saw an Inca site with dramatic terracing. From there we caught the train to Machu Picchu which was an impressive journey with many impressive high peaks.

We were parallel to the Inca trail and started our journey into the semi-tropical rain forest.

On the train there were some tourists from the northern part of this continent with huge lenses and motor drives taking thousands of photos of trees !!! They did not seem to really know what they were taking. Perhaps they could learn a thing or two from Mum and I. We are only amateurs but they seem to have all the gear and no idea !!!

The railway passed straight through the hotel grounds before reaching the station.

We left our bags at our hotel, the Inkaterra and went on a scary bus trip up the valley toward Machu Picchu.

We had lunch at the Sanctuary lodge or as Ben likes to call it McDonalds. This was disappointing in every way. We had expected white cotton sheets, superb service and a luxurious ambiance as this is a Orient Express hotel. Instead we were greeted with an overcrowded, loud buffet.

We walked up about quarter of a mile to get to Machu Picchu and the ruins seemed hidden until you turned the last corner. Then they appeared before you just like you see the postcards.

We saw two main building styles. The common people lived in smaller stone bricked houses with mortor and the more ornate buildings used larger stones which were cut and laid without mortar.

There were temples to the gods of sun and moon.

There were many artifacts such as gold, mummies, textiles and ceramic. These are not currently in Peru as they were taken by the founder, Hyram Bingham, back to Yale university for research. The Peruvian government hopes that they will be returned very soon.

We then went back to the hotel for happy hour and booked tours for the next day. We had one round of various sours and then tried to go to see a film. This was not available so we used the time to have some more sours and then went back. The film was not a film but a series of picture on Orchids around the hotel. This was very interesting.

Then we had dinner in the restaurant. It was quite odd because you are right next to the trains so these were quite off putting during the dinner.