Machupicchu

This is the last post recapping our trip to Peru. This post also happens to be the main reason we chose to go to Peru – this allows me to relive our time at Machupicchu! We had some amazing views along the way, we got to experience some pure Peruvian culture and we met some of the most awesome people.

*Fun Fact: We visited Machupicchu on the anniversary of its discovery by Hiram Bingham on July 24, 1911. 102 years later and this site is one of the Wonders of the World (depending on the list you look at) and its popularity continues to grow each year. Check it out here.

We woke up around 4am, got our things ready and headed down to the bus terminal. We were on the 3rd bus up to Machupicchu. We waited in line and were let in at 5am, when the site opens to the public. The sun hadn’t risen and there was this beautiful glow about the ruins that offered this magical feel. I have to tell you that when I first saw the ruins, I tears welled in my eyes. It was a hard 5 days, but seeing this beautiful place made all of the muscles aches and blisters on my feet totally worth it.

Our first picture of Machupicchu, and our awesome guide Simba! (It was pretty chilly before the sun rose)

 

 

 

Before the sun rose over the mountains, there was a breathtaking view of the moon.

As the sun rose over the mountains and onto Machupicchu.

Can you see the face?? The mountain in the background: the face is facing the sky, the right is the forehead, moving left: the tall point (Huayna Picchu) is the nose, then the mouth and the point all the way to the left is the chin. Do you see it now??

 

 

 

 

 

This is a stone that mimics the shape of the mountains behind it.

Once the sun came out the temperature rose!

 

This is the house of the Condor. This is where the Inaca’s would bring their offerings to the Gods, leave it on the stone on the ground and then the Condor would come, pick up the offering and take it away. Can you make out the shape of the Condor? On the ground is it’s head and the two large boulders on the upper portion of the picture, on both sides, are its wings.

The terracing. Amazing.

 

We decided to take a short walk to the Inca Bridge.

 

The Inca Bridge is behind me.

One of the cameras in our group was able to take Panoramic pictures. We got an awesome shot of the group with Huayna Picchu in the background!

We spent a long time roaming around the ruins and imagining the Inca people living there. It was such a beautiful place and such and amazing experience, it is almost hard to put into words.

We left and headed back to Aguas Calientes for lunch and to catch our trains back to Cusco. Peru was amazing. Machupicchu was breathtaking and a definite must see.