Monday, 8/24

What do I say about today? We went to Machu Picchu. I could almost stop there because it is one of the most photographed places in the world and my photos won’t really add anything, except, of course, for the ones I’m in! And description is woefully inadequate.
But – I’ll give it a shot.
We did all our ablutions and breakfast and met Uber in the lobby promptly at 7:30. We walked a couple of blocks and joined the queue for the bus to the site. This is a well oiled machine – one bus follows another as they fill up. It is a 25 minute ride up the mountain. The road crawls up the narrow road, one hairpin turn after another. Occasionally another bus is headed down the mountain so they pass each other with some inches to spare. There are no guard rails so the bus on the open side seems like it is going over – an increasingly dramatic drop the closer we got to the park entrance. However, no incidents and we arrived safely, along with much of the rest of the world! We paid our sol to use the bathroom. This is the only restroom in the entire park!!! so we planned our day carefully. Also any movement around the park involves a great number of steps at 8000 feet elevation.
We entered through the gate, closely monitored, and walked a short distance until we came to a break in the rocks and there was Machu Picchu laid out before us! Words fail. Our guide took each of our pictures in the obligatory – Here I am at Machu Picchu pic.
This place was discovered in 1911 by an American named Hiram Bingham. This is the only Incan city, at least known about, that was not destroyed by the Spanish. There was been some restoration but much of it was intact, just overgrown. The exact purpose of the site is unknown but there was sections which were clearly used for religious or ceremonial purposes – the stones are finely hewn just like we saw at other temple sites. Another section was housing and the only thing they lack is their thatched roofs. They are almost typical stone houses one can see in many places. All the buildings face east, to catch the morning sun. There is a quarry, for all the building. Here, they used the stone on site so it did not have to be hauled over hill and dale to be used. There are many many terraces for farming, with stone retaining walls. In the center is a large grassy area which might have been a square or gathering place. Tall mountains surround it on all sides so the views are breathtaking. It is a vertical landscape with steps everywhere and not nice even steps but steps with bumpy surfaces, some requiring a very large step up and others of all different heights. The day was the most incredible Stairmaster class I’ve ever taken!
Our guide took as around for about two hours. As we had already learned so much about Incan sites from Wilfredo, he did have much new to offer. His English was a little difficult and it seemed that he was just running through his spiel so not our favorite guide. We almost happily said goodbye to him and set out to do our own things.
After a long descent to use the facilities, we decided to climb up to the Sun Gate, the historical entrance to Machu Picchu. It is an amazing climb, with views at every step. Machu Picchu is visible the entire way. The trail is only about a mile long but with an elevation gain of almost 1000 feet – innumerable uneven steps, clambering over a large boulder at one point, and watching our steps on the bumpy stone paved path. It was slow going and a sweaty business as the day was warm and we were out in the sun most of the time. But oh so worth it!!!! There are a few stone walls and terraces at the top and a stone gateway through which people who have been trekking the Inca Trail arrive at journey’s end.
We could look down on Machu Picchu, seeming rather far away below us. We were about even with the top of one mountain. A nice stone wall provided seats for us as we ate our lunch up there. Lunches to go at the hotel were ridiculously expensive so we were all just going to bring snacks, but then Kathy had the brilliant idea of taking some of the ham and cheese slices from breakfast to make sandwiches! And we each grabbed an orange and were set. Up there, a rather ordinary sandwich which I wouldn’t be too excited about at home, tasted like the finest meal.
As we headed down,we split up as Sandy and I also wanted to hike out to the Inca Bridge. Alice and Kathy were going to climb down and then head back to the hotel.
Sandy and I enjoyed this hike too. After a fairly steep beginning with more steps, the trail really leveled out and just wandered along the side of the mountain. It was only about a half hour each way. At the end was a slatted gate. Through it, we could see the bridge – steps leading down to a precarious looking wooden bridge made of just some planks and then more steps going up the far side. Not as exciting as the Sun Gate but still a lovely walk.
When we got back to the main area, we split up too to just take our own time to be quiet, wonder a bit, and just be there. I kept trying to find a nice little grassy place to sit but the guards kept moving me off. People are not allowed on the grassy areas for the most part. And with the crowds, I can certainly understand why.
After a time, I hiked down to the entrance/exit to catch the bus back down the mountain. It just seemed unreal that I had spent the day up there! Back in town, I walked the short distance to the hotel and gratefully got out of my sweaty gross clothes and had the best shower!
Dinner was again at the hotel – another good meal and again we went to bed early.
Tomorrow back to Cusco and then the rest of the time on our own until we end out to the airport for home late Wednesday afternoon!
When God was handing out lives, why did I get such a good one? No answer, only a full measure of delight in the experience and a grateful heart.