Friday, 3/1. Before boarding the train to Machu Picchu we visited a shaman(?) to get our spirits cleansed. Long ceremony that loads a host of various material into a wrapping that’s then burned. The tradition goes back before the Incas.

The train was cramped and bumpy. Nice seats though. View was poor since it follows a brown river. The track was laid a hundred years ago not to get people to Machu Picchu but to build a hydroelectric plant. The town of Machu Picchu sits in a sliver of a valley and is clearly a single-purpose center. A large number of people move from train station to bus station. We did the same. Bus ride winds up the mountain slope at an astonishing speed. Entry to the Park is time controlled, so there is a crowd marking time. We all visit the restroom because there are no facilities inside (thought to be a means to get people to leave the park). Entry is followed by a long, steep hike through thick foliage. Our first view of the ruins is from above and is breathtaking. See the view, grab your camera.

We slowly walk through the ruins with frequent stops for interesting tidbits of information. Much the who/what/why of Machu Picchu is based on conjecture. The walking tour is a one way route, to again discourage people to from overstaying. Llamas populate the grounds.

It rained on and off all afternoon, changing the surrounding views constantly. (A theory for the “Why here?” question is its 70 inches of rain per year. Irrigation not required.) One of the key takeaways from the visit is the incredible scenery all around the site. Cliffs covered in greenery. Soaring mountain tops. There is evidence that many terraces were build to hold hanging gardens.

Just breathtaking. Tomorrow we return to do one or two hikes.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

•