Well, I came to Peru to see a famous Inca temple out in
Andes that is one of the wonders of the world, like I’ve been to China to set
foot on the Great Wall & Australia to see Uluru. Of course I came all this way to see Machu Picchu. I’ve been dreaming of photographing it
since I was a kid while learning about the Incas in primary school. That dream has come true & it was
quite the adventure out of Cusco to get there for my overnight adventure.
 |
Aguas Calientes |
Someone who walked me to catch a bus from the hostel in Cusco
to Ollanta where I caught the famous Peru Rail to a tiny mountain town called
Aguas Calientes, which means “hot springs”; again I was meant & walked to
the hostel. Back in the 1980’s going on Peru Rail
Peru Rail was out of the question cos
tourism was not really allowed.
Now it’s booming. Well, I scored a tourism price ticket for thirty
dollars each way. There is a baggage restriction & I had to leave my big
pack at the hostel storage & only take the necessary items. Don’t worry; every traveler has to do
it. The ride was very beautiful along the famous “Inca Trail” & got to see
a few Inca agricultural centers along the way. The coach had panoramic windows for site seeing on the hour
and half journey. It was a wee bit
rocky. It reminded me of being on a roller coaster at Walt Disney World or
positing to Costa Rica. It was hard to read that book of mine. Peruvian
hospitality was surperb with a non-alcoholic beverage & a snack was
provided, you don’t get that while on an Amtrak coach. Tourism has really caught on in Peru
& they have a fantastic backpacker network. Aguas Calientes reminds me of
photos of the streets of Kathmandu (I haven’t been yet, but its on the list) with
alleyway shops selling everything you will need for your expedition to Machu
Picchu & not to forget every souvenir of your journey too. I had every intention for a relaxing
afternoon at the hot springs, but I heard from another guest at the Pirwar
B&B
Pirwa B&B Machu Picchu that I’m staying at that a landslide close the springs. Oh, yeah it’s rainy too. I’m in the rainy season what am I
expecting, burst of sun do shine threw though. Reminds me of that awesome afternoon I just had in the
Galapagos snorkeling in the rain.
However, I found myself taking a wee walk around grabbing a bite to eat
where I munched on a huge portion of popcorn (the kernels were huge, the corn
in Peru is bigger than its North America cousin) & a nice vegetarian set
meal at the tourism price. Got to
love scoring a barging with food. I walked around a bit before I found myself
getting a half hour massage. Boy, did I really need it. I think it was an Andes style that
incorporated hitting those acupuncture points. I only paid like thirty soles
for, which is like fifteen dollars & with American prices that’s a barging
for one. My guide meant me later that night to go over my schedule for my long
day of exploration & return to Cusco via the same route I came from. Oh,
it’s going to be a busy to for the wait & compose shot & hopes to see
lamas. I found out that there is roughly 5,000 visitors per day & only 400
can get permits to hike Waynpicchu.
Well, I’m one of those 400 who scored a permit to hike the famous
peak. I heard that it takes an
hour up & hour down. Just a
wee bit nervous cos of the altitude, I got to hike slow & steady to win the
race. They do divide the group of 400 into half & allocate certain times
for the hike to main preservation of the trail.
Machu Picchu was built somewhere in the 1450’s at the height
of the Inca Empire, but it was abandoned just over a hundred years later as a
result of the Spanish Conquest.
It’s possible that most of its inhabitants died of smallpox that was
introduced by the Spanish Conquistadors who arrived in the area. The latter had notes of a placed called
Piccho, although there is no real
record of the Spanish visiting the area. There are types of sacred rocks
defaced by the Conquistadors in other locations are untouched at Machu Picchu.
It wasn’t until 24 July 1911 that the Yale Scholar, Hiram Bingham, founded the lost
Inca city. He had been searching
for the city of Vilcabamba, the last Inca refuge during the Spanish conquest.
He had been searching for years in pervious expeditions in the area before he
found Machu Picchu. An eleven year Quechua boy, Pabilto Alvarez, led Bingham up
to Machu Picchu was where some Quechauas lived in the original structures.
Recently archaeologist scholars claim that Machu Picchu was an estate of the
Inca Emperor Pachacuti. The site has been selected due to its position relative
to sacred landscape features such as its mountains, which are purported to be
in alignment with key astronomical events important to the Incas. Also, Machu
Picchu is on a magnetic center of the universe, like the Great Pyramids of
Ginza are & other well known world wonders. Hiram Bingham claimed that the
complex was the traditional birthplace of the Inca “Virgins of the Suns”. In
1983 UNESCO “The Lost City of the Incas” was designated a UNESCO World Heritage
Site. Machu Picchu is located eighty kilometers northwest of Cusco in the Andes
Mountains at an altitude of about 2,450 meters above sea level that is 1,000
meters lower than Cusco. It has a milder climate than the Inca capital. It’s one of the most important
archaeological sites in South America & the most visited tourist attraction
in Peru. Recently, there has been controversy with Yale University on the
treasures of Machu Picchu that were housed in the museum there, but the
artifacts have just recently been returned to Peru.
 |
Machu Picchu |
The famous ruins are divided into two main sections known as
the Urban & Agricultural Sectors that are divided by a wall. The Agricultural Sector is divided into
an upper & lower section while the Urban Sector is dived into an East &
West Sectors that are separated by a wide plaza. The central buildings use the
classic Inca architectural style of polished dry-stone walls of regular
shape. It has been known that the
Incas master a technique, called ashlar, in which blocks of stone are cut to
fit together tightly without mortar. These stones are defiantly earthquake
proof & not even a strand of grass can fit between them. It’s quite impressive. The interior of the Inca structures
features trapezoidal windows. The main stone is granite that was used to build
this fantastic man made wonder. The structure is composed of one hundred forty
structures that include temples, sanctuaries, parks & residences, which
included houses with thatched roofs. There are more than one hundred flights of
stone steps & numerous water fountains that were used for an irrigation
system. Research suggests that the irrigation system was used to carry water
from a holy spring to each of the house in turn. In the first zone are the
primary archaeological treasures: the Inihuatana, the Temple of the Sun &
the Room of the Three Windows that was dedicated to Inti, the sun god. The
royalty area that was for the nobility class is a section of houses located in
rows over a slope & the residents of the Amautas (wise persons) had reddish
walls, but the section for the Nustas (princesses) had trapezoid shaped rooms.
The Monumental Mausoleum is a carved statue with a vaulted interior &
carved drawings on the walls that was used for sacrifices. It’s been noted that
the people of Machu Picchu were connected to long distance trade that can be
seen by non-local artifacts that were found at the site. No one really knows
the history of this place cos it was lost for many centuries & it continues
to fascinates archeologists & historians to find the truth to it.
 |
Intihuatana |
Since the Incas were big worshipers of mother Earth &
the solar system, the Intihuatana stone is one of many ritual stones in South
America. These stones are arranged to point directly to the sun during the
winter solstice, 21 June. The name comes from the Quechua language: inti means
sun, wata is the verb to tie or hitch, translate in English means “The Hitching
Post of the Sun”, Hiram Bingham supposedly coined the term. The Incas believed
that the stone held the sun it its place along its annual path in the sky. The stone is located at 13°9'48"
S. On 11 November & 30 January the sun stands almost above the pillar,
having no shadow at all. During the winter solstice the stone is casting the
longest shadow & during the summer solstice it castes a much shorter one of
the northern side. I heard that this stone was used in an Inca Cola commercial
& some how it got a wee bit damage during the commercial shoot. Researchers believe that the stone was
built as an astronomic calendar. This place is fascinating with the rich
history to the metaphysical world. No wonder why you see New Age &
Spirituality tours celebrating the solstices here. Fantastic healing powers are in the works here & one is
in connection to the universe. Let your spirit be free!
 |
Center Part of Machu Picchu |
 |
View from Waynapicchu |
It was a very busy day for my exploration with an early
start by bus to the entrance of this iconic world wonder that I will be quite
nacker after. My day was bright & early again with another continental
breaky at the hostel. However, I
found myself having a strange inappropriate cultural chat with the night watch
guy who pointed out at 6AM that I had a pimple on my chin. If my sister were with me she would
have told the guy that it was rude. He said sorry, but I’m like saying to
myself why do you point out such a thin.
I was polite about the apology & got my things to & went on my
merry way. I found my way to the bus.
However, the ride was something else another rockin’ rolla ride with
numerous switch backs up the mountain to the main gate to Machu Picchu. It only took like twenty minutes &
I was getting a wee bit nauseous. At around 7AM I found myself inside the gate
of Machu Picchu enjoying the morning fog & a light mist taking a few photos
before I had to go meet the group for the guided two hour tour. Well, it was crazy finding the right
group cos everyone was out side the main gate waiting for theirs & of
course there’s other guides trying to make a sale & selling you a personal
guide. After a while I ended up in the right group that spoke English of course
& proceeded threw the gate once more to climb like ten minutes to meet the
group for the tour. I saw the most amazing view of Machu Picchu at that point
with the beautiful mountain in the background that any famous photo would
tell. I quite enjoyed the tour
& guide for the two & half hours wondering around all the major places
until it was time to make the famous climb to Huaynapicchu. I meant some people from LA the other
day on the city tour that I meant again at Machu Picchu & went on the
strenuous one hour climb to Waynapicchu. At this point the sun came out &
it was scorching hot. I had to
delayer from my rain gear. At the
gate you got to sign in with your name, age, country, time you begin & your
signature. When you’re done you
just find your name sign & clock out.
It’s the park services way to keep a count of the 400 people who were
issued permits for the day. I was
#105 in the second group. Funny a group of Brits asked me if I gave my real age
& I told them yes, but I could easily pass for nineteen. One of the Brits
tried to take off my sunnies to see if I was lying on my age & actually
agreed that I look much younger than thirty three. I also got chatting with some Japanese hikers & asked if
they were “genki” & they were in deed. I told them “Shimane-ken no ALT desu”,
explained that I taught English in Shimane Prefecure & also, said “
yoroshiku onegaishimasu”. My Nihongo skills do
come out from time to time & it doesn’t matter how basic they are cos the
Japanese are just impressed that I can speak their language. Well,
the trail wasn’t overly difficulty; I’ve done worst in Juneau with the West
Glacier Trail & in Yosemite National Park. There were numerous switchbacks,
climb up granite stone & not to forget hanging onto wires as a railing at
points. Once I reached the summit the views were spectacular. I got chatting
with a German & couple of American girls at the top about Canon’s &
lenses. Got to love talking photography when you get the chance. I also gave my camera to a few other
photographers to take photos of me on the ledge over looking Machu Picchu &
of course I was working the camera on my wee bit of a personal photo shoot. Strike
a pose there’s nothing to it Machu Picchu. The hike down wasn’t too bad. The
sun was shining bright though at mid day & luckily I had a hat to block out
the sun in my pack. I’m happy to have done the hike when I got back to the
trail’s entrance. I was relieved that I found the inner strength to make it. I
was looking at the mountain thinking that I’m crazy to go up & hike it, but
I’m really not. It’s been rather
an unique experience to enhance my overall experience at Machu Picchu. I spent
my afternoon wondering around looking at other sites of the city &
composing my shoots threw the viewfinder.
At one spot I quite enjoyed just sitting on a ledge inhaling the beauty
of the place & being at peace with this amazing peaceful vortex on
Earth. The lighting has been
superb today. Can’t really complain.
Just knacker & read to find some vegetarian food before I catch the
train & make it back to Cusco later this evening the same way I came
yesterday. It’s definitely been a unique & beautiful experience at Machu
Picchu. Oh, I also got the stamp
in my Passport as well. Time to
rest the soul before enjoying more of the beauty of the Inca world tomorrow. I
also found out that Inca means “king” today.