Part 3 - Machu Picchu!

If you got through most of my Part 2 post then you are brave indeed to come back for the finale. Day 6 and 7 are really all about Machu Picchu - because at this point it appears we are definitely going to get there. But there are still challenges ahead. Aly tells us in our evening meeting before Day 6 that in fact it will be the most challenging day. We will be faced with not just distance and terrain but a new factor - time. We have a train to catch late afternoon that we must make - as it is the train that will take us to Aguas Calientes which is the town closest to Machu Picchu where will will stay the night. The train is booked months in advance and while many things in Peru do not operate on time - the trains do! We will walk uphill 2000 feet to get to the Llactapata pass where we will see Machu Pichu for the first time from the observatory, eat lunch and then descend 3000 feet on a steep muddy trail to reach the valley we will walk across and catch our train. Sounds easy right? Aly tells us we are ready for this and he has confidence in each of us. Gulp! It was actually an awesome day and really one of my favorites. At one point when I was planting my poles firmly and stepping through 4 inches of mud and trying not to fall off the mountain I found myself laughing out loud because it was so much fun. It brought back memories of going hiking in the woods as a child with my Dad and brothers and how much fun we had. 

Top right - Cara and Michael emerging from the rainforest on the uphill climb. Bottom right - an enterprising inhabitant willing to let you use his toilet for 1 sol - basically 33 cents - worth it!! 

We make it to the top where the Llactapata ruins give us our first views of Machu Picchu. Llactapata is located on a ridge above the Ahobamba and Saint Teresa rivers. The location is thought to be an important rest stop and shrine on the way to Machu Picchu. It also played an important astronomical function during the solstices and equinoxes. 

Top picture is a view of Machu Picchu but my iPhone just doesn't have the power to show you a clear pic. But we could see it especially with the binoculars. The bottom right picture has a line extending directly through the center of the door which lines up perfectly to Machu Picchu, and from Machu Picchu you can see the observatory and they signaled between the two places. Very cool! 

We then continued on to Llactapata Lodge where we had a fantastic lunch. Really one of the best meals of the entire trip. 

First course fresh avocado, carrot and pea terrine. Main course fresh trout right from the skillet, lentils, potatoes and rice. Dessert was Plaintain Foster. Hi Mark! Can't blame him for looking over the amazing view outside our dining area.  

Here's our great hiking family! 

Clockwise from top left - Joe and Jennifer from San Francisco, Patrick and Debra from DC, Mark and Char from Canada, Cara and Michael from Australia and Will and Giselle from England. So fortunate to have had such an amazing group of people to share this adventure. 

Aly tells us that from now on we need to take only "mental pictures" as we have a train to catch - so we start the downward trek. 

I took a quick one - steep and very muddy. And that is an edge to their left with a big drop off.  

Everyone makes it down the hill and now we are almost ready to set off across the valley. One more obstacle to overcome - and this was actually the scariest part for me. A bridge spanning the river. A long wooden suspension bridge that we must cross single file and there is really nothing to hang onto. What's available is either way too low or way too high. Once the group starts to cross the bridge starts swinging back and forth wildly. I literally couldn't get my balance at all and I'm carrying my poles in my hands. Somehow I made it although my heart was going crazy and I could barely breath!!

Take that bridge!!! You didn't get the best of me! 

Now we just have to get across the valley and the group is almost running. Who knew you could run in hiking boots? I might be ready to try out for The Amazing Race! I'm thinking we are going to get to a town where we will catch the train but nope - just a train station out in the valley all by itself. We arrive and the place is swarming with people - mostly hikers who appear to not have bathed in weeks. We have arrived in time and and even are able to all enjoy a special beer and toast to our success!

Cusquena and served in a special glass that is engraved with a picture of Machu Picchu. Pretty sure Aly made us run just so we had time for the beer! 

We board the Hydroelectric train and have an enjoyable one hour ride to Aguas Calientes. 

Our hotel in Aguas Calientes was beautiful and located walking distance to the train. it was called Inkaterra and had gorgeous grounds and all the sleeping rooms were casitas. I totally forgot to take pictures! At that point I was glad we had made it and was really looking forward to a shower. We all met for dinner later that night and enjoyed another fabulous meal celebrating our big accomplishment. 

The Big Day! Machu Picchu!

Machu Picchu is 9 miles from Aguas Calientes and most people ride there on a bus. We had done plenty of hiking so a bus sounded great. We left at 7 AM to get in line. The first bus leaves at 5 AM and if you want to be on it you need to get there at 3 AM. No one was interested. Machu Picchu would still be there for us if we left at 7 AM we decided. The line was long at 7 AM but we were on the bus by 7:45 and arrived at Machu Picchu in about 30 minutes. Here's my first view! 

We're here!!! 

It has been said that you can't take a bad picture of Machu Picchu and I would definitely agree. But the pictures don't come close to doing it justice. For one - it's a lot bigger then it looks in pictures. And your hiking is not over once you get there. I thought the Inca's were small people?? Why did they make the steps so tall? We lucked out - the weather was perfect. They say often it is quite cloudy but even then totally beautiful. And yes - there are llamas just walking all over like they belong and we don't. Which is actually true. 

We were there for about 6 hours and the time really flew. There is so much to see and a lot of people - about 3000 a day trying to see it. The traffic is one way so it takes time and there is a lot of hiking up and hiking down to get around to the different areas. There are 3 different types of construction within Machu Picchu - with the most intricate being in what is considered the royal area where the Inca King Pachacutec resided. 

Temple of the Three Windows overlooking the main square. 

Looking across the main square underneath the royal area where the king would address the people. 

When you are looking down on the tiers you can't see the stairs that connect the different levels. 

Machu Picchu has so many systems that you can't see such as an excellent drainage system to get rid of the water during the rainy season. Plus all of this rock had to be hauled in to build everything - amazing!

Our VICTORY picture! We made it! I leave Peru a stronger braver person because of this great adventure. And I couldn't have a better friend and soul sister to share the experience with then Julie! 

Good bye Peru! Thank you for sharing your beautiful country and for being the warm lovely welcoming people that you are! 

"I do not bring back from a journey quite the same self that I took." W. Somerset Maugham