We are off to see the Lost City of the Incas (Machu Picchu) but to get there you must take a train through the mountains.
So we climb aboard our train at the town of Ollantaytambo. There are two types of trains that go to Machu Picchu, the back packer train and the 1st class train.
Guess which one we were on? Someone has to ride in these trains to keep them in business!
The Inca trail to Machu Picchu starts right outside of Ollantaytombo. The first photo above shows the bridge that starts the trail. The trail is visible to the right of the bridge. The photo above shows another bridge that joins up with the trail but that one is a little older and I bet a lot more thrilling to cross. If you read the book Turn Right at Machu Picchu by Mark Adams this is the trail he writes about and it is a three of four day hike. Doesn't look like fun to me.
We arrived at Machu Picchu train station in a controlled chaos. People from all over the world getting ready to head up to the Lost City.
The town is named Machu Picchu Pueblo. It is also known as Aguas Calientes or hot springs for you non- Spanish speaking readers. Since the Spanish no longer rule Peru the official name is Machu Picchu Pueblo.
We headed up to the Lost City by bus the next morning. After 15 switchback turns and Cindy turning green we arrived at the ruins of Machu Picchu. As you can see the site is high up in the Andes and the clouds drift in and out all day long.
The city is on many levels with fantastic views from everywhere.
This is the top of the sun temple. The day of the summer solstice the sun shines through the square opening in the middle and shines on the tall rock. The day of the winter solstice the light shines through the square opening on the right. This is how the Incas kept track of the seasons of the year.
This rock is carved to show the four points of the compass. Our guide is holding his smart phone which shows where true north is. You can see how accurate they were when they carved this rock.
The above three photos show you a little more of the ruins. You can tell by the opening I am going through that the locals were not big people.
Cindy and I decided to hike up to the Inka (Inca) Bridge which leads to one of the old Inca trails.
We got some great views of the city below us. You can see that the clouds have lifted for awhile.
We marched on up and up to the bridge. The trail got a little tight in spots.
This trail was quite narrow in spots with the mountain straight up and several thousand feet straight down with no guard rail.
Take note of the moss covered wall that I am pointing to. On our way down the trail we came around this bend and a young girl was walking on top of the moss covered wall and to the left of the wall is 3 to 4 thousand foot cliff. Her mother was walking behind her. I think she was working on her mother of the year badge.
We finely get to the Inca Bridge on the trail we were walking and
thank goodness this sign and gate were on this side of the bridge!!!!
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