We met our guide Jafeth (Jeff) in our hotel the night before our Machu Picchu adventure to go over some details, hoisted a celebratory Pisco Sour then headed out to check out Aguas Calientes and find some dinner.
The morning of Feb 27th, we were excited to hit the road by bus, only a 25 minute ride to Machu Picchu, up switchbacks, making room or backing up for oncoming buses to pass on the narrow cliffhanger of a road. Better than midway rides!
Most archaeologists believe that Machu Picchu was built as an estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti (1438–1472). Spectacular all-round with a new wow factor at every turn and as the sun moves and hits different angles. Pictures don't to it justice; it is truly an incredible place.
The Incas were quite the engineers and planners and no detail is too small, from the sun and moon mirror rocks to the concave wall in the main square which amplifies your voice to the masses, or the inset partial 'windows' that resonate your voice. Amazing architecture! The Incas were the front runners in Lego technology. All of the rocks fit perfectly together - to think, with no tools, no jackhammers, no diamond bit drills. There was no room for error, and the planning prior to even beginning any work is extraordinary, such as drainage under floors, aquaducts for water routing, etc., even small things like torch holders. These are huge chunks of rock! No small feat.
Our guide showed us around for a few hours and then we stayed as long as we could, from 8 am to 5 pm, with treks to the Inca trail bridge and Sun Gate before catching one of the last the buses back to town.
We bought a few cervezas and sat on a park bench with our new Scottish friend Colin, whom we met on the mountain when I showed him my Scotland raincoat.
Everything is walking distance in town as there are no cars, only the mountain tour buses so it's easy to get around. Tons of restaurants and bars for the tourists. A train track smack in the middle of town so you really have to look both ways.
The Inca (King) had absolute power over everything and everyone - and I'm thinking some Absolut vodka may have been consumed during the construction phase.
Those Ottawa 2017 stickers are becoming all the rage! They're everywhere, even on posts near the Machu Picchu bus loading and on prominent display on the main street.
Posting pictures, but you have to experience it to really appreciate it!
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