Machu pichu exceeded all expectations. . . It was awesome. Initially I was aprehensive about kicking out extra money for something that I thought would be completely exploited and over-run by gringo tourists. . . and it was both of those things, but that couldn't possibly take away from how awesome and beautiful it was. It was worth it 100%. Getting to Machu Pichu involved taking an expensive train and spending a few nights in Aguas Calientes, an overpriced tacky gringo village. I figured I'd make the most of it, get up at 4:30 AM, hike up to the top, and get there before everyone else. Apperently several hundred other folks had the same idea. Its all good though. I ended up meeting a group of Japanese travelers and spent the entire day kicking it with them. . . we even walked back to town and had dinner together at the end of the day. Hopefully we'll meet again in Bolivia. . . we'll see.
Location is everything. . . Machu Pichu just happens to be sitting in an incredibly beautifull place. It would have been awesome and inspiring even without the ruins. Its just kind of sitting way up high on top of a mountain. If you look either to your right or your left your looking down into deep green gorges, each with its own rushing river thousands of feet below. This is the eastern side of thew Andes. . . much more green than the western slopes.
I'm not sure how many pictures I took. . . hundreds. . . choosing which ones to post was tough. These are pretty much random.
So anyway, the peak that sits in the back of the first picture is called Wynu Pichu. Only four hundred people a day are allowed through a gate to climb it. . . also, another trail leads to some more ruins along with a cave7temple on the opposite side. My new friends and I had gotten there early enough that we were able to do the hike.
Arriving early in the morning:
Views from the hike up Waynu Pichu:
High above Machu Pichu:
Cave/temple:
These people were the best. . . they had me convinced I should move to Japan:
Back to the ruins:
Walking back to town:
4 comments:
nice pics I am learning a bunch from your blog too although I doubt I am retaining any of it but still interesting information:) I might attempt to paint one of your pix but I dont guarantee good results :)
Thank for taking me along to see your photos. I was there in the mid 70's but all my photos got destroyed in a house fire. Enjoy enjoy enjoy. Don't drink to much chicha.
If you move to Japan, I am going with you.
oh my gosh i love the one of you and that animal, what is that a llama?
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