Machu Picchu

I finally went to Machu Picchu. I had been putting it off for so long that I almost didn´t want to go. I didn´t want to deal with the hassle (bus rides, train rides, etc), the tourists (I saw more gringos today than I have in 4 months), and the price (about $40, which is expensive down here). And, immediately after I had reserved a seat on the Monday morning train, I learned there was to be another Paro on Monday. Aghast, I called PeruRail and tried to figure things out. Turns out there was no Paro, but they had shut down the train anyway. So after a day delay, I headed out Tuesday morning.

After arriving by train in Aguas Calientes (a junky tourist town that serves to host travelers to Machu Picchu), I climbed the steep footpath to the entrance. It was up there, but took only about a half hour. Sweaty, I returned to my hostel to get some fuel and sleep for tomorrow. However, I couldn´t sleep too well because of the anticipation. It was like living in Jackson the night before a big powder day and knowing I had to get up early and move quickly to get in line for the first tram. I got to the bus station at 5:15am, and was about 100th in line, which put me on bus #4. No problem. I got to the gate, got through, and boogied up to the site where the pictures on the postcards are taken. I snapped a few quick shots, and then hustled over to the gate to Huayna Picchu, the big mountain seen in that same picture-postcard (they let only 400 people per day ascend it). Instead of going up right away, I headed down to the Temple of the Moon, a cave that has ruins built into it. I was the only one there for a half hour, and enjoyed the tranquility. I then busted up the backside to the summit, where I was able to relax in the sun and then the shade as the first round of hikers were descending back to Machu Picchu. I took in the grandeur of the scene, and then took a nap.

After a few hours relaxing on the top of Huayna Picchu, I descended and made my way through the ruins of Machu Picchu with my new friends from NY. We cruised around the ruins, dehydrated, and tried to tag along with guided tours to learn some history behind the ruins. I wish I could tell more about the history, but I´m tired and I want to reasearch more. However, if you have time, I suggest you check out "Lost City of the Incas" by Hiram Bingham. Bingham was the firt man (gringo) to ¨discover¨ Machu Picchu in 1911 (while he was looking for Vilcabamba, another lost Incan city), and subsequently cleared and excavated the ruins. It´s on the top of my list now.

I´m glad I finally decided to go. Although I didn´t get the official guided tour, the vistas and the grandeur of the place is truly amazing. No pictures can ever do it justice (and I´m not sure any have). But I took a lot, and they will be available soon on my Picasa page. I´m off to Calca for a couple more days!