Macchu Picchu

Well, it deserves a separate entry doesn`t it?! It was amazing quite simply, really amazing. One of those experiences that words really don`t do justice to it, and I will remember seeing it for the first time forever.

We woke at 3.30am, set off at 4am and had a trek in the dark for about 20 minutes to the foot of the steps. The gates opened at 4.45am, and it took 45 minutes to climb the 2000+ steps to the entrance to Macchu Picchu as the sun came up. We had a brief guided tour (too brief!) then spent a couple of hours looking around the site, including taking the slightly famous classic shot. The site is incredible, the buidings and walls are in very good condition. There are several ingenius structures including a series of water canals and fountains. Huge terraces stick to the hills, including some that are so steep it maks you wonder how and why they bothered with them, they looked dangerous to work on let alone build.

Terraces used for growing vegetables and coca

Simon, Gil, Ed and Me

There was an incan bridge about 10 minutes walk out of the site, along the edge of a very steep valley. It’s at the end of a path that clings to the valley edge, the bridge is now closed as it is too dangerous and a tourist died on there last year. Still the path was stunning and was a further reminder as to what amazing engineers the Incans were, building paths along seemingly impossible route.

Insane incan path on way to bridge

I then climbed Wannu Picchu, the large hill in the background of the classic shot. Access is limited to 400 per day due to slippage, and was a hard climb under a very hot sun. This was a religious centre, and also had a lot of complete buildings and amazing terraces and paths that hung precariously to the hillside with sheer drops below. Steps led down steep hillsides and then appeared to drop suddenly into the canyon below.

On Wannu Picchu with Macchu Picchu behind

I left the site at 2pm and went to get food with Gil, before waiting for the train back to Ollyantambo and then the bus to Cusco. It was the usual chaos. We picked the train tickets up, mine was a faxed copy. Gils had a girls name on with his passport number. Julians was hand written(!!!) until he kicked up a stink and got a faxed copy. They all had different prices on. The train stopped at one point and there was a great pre recored announcement about not throwing anything out of the window for the safety of any children outside!

We arrived at Ollyantambo and the coach that collected us had no real passenger list, so they didn`t know who they were collecting but read a out a few names with mis spellings to hilarious effect. We arrived back at midnight exhausted but exhilarated.

I got back to the hostal and was reminded that its not all great people and amazing scenery in Peru, a girl had had her handbag snatched by someone driving back and the police were talking to her about it.