Machu Picchu

I don't think it has ever been so easy to wake up at 4:30 in a morning as it was the morning we went to Machu Picchu. In fact, when the alarm clock went off I practically jumped out of bed! Needless to say, going to Machu Picchu has been something that I've been looking forward to for quite some time. So when the day came, I was 100% ready and willing to wake up super early to wait in a long line in order to board a bus at 5 in hopes to be one of the first people (of thousands) to enter Machu Picchu that day.

Apparently, a lot of people had the same idea and we were far from being the first bus to reach the top but it didn't even matter to me. In fact, it almost seemed to be too easy to get there. Not that driving three hours to Ollantaytambo, taking a train to Aguas  Calientes (the only mode of transportation available to get there), and then busing up the mountain was truly simple, but I wish we had had more time to do a hike or something before reaching Machu Picchu. To be honest, having worked harder to reach the top would have made seeing Machu Picchu for the first time even more rewarding. But I guess I know what I'll change if I make it back!

Apart from that minor detail I wouldn't change anything about my day at Machu Picchu. It was even more amazing, magical, and mysterious than I had imagined it! I suppose I should finally show you a picture. This really says it all...

The clouds rolled in and out of the ancient city in an eery but yet majestic way. At times the entire area can be obscured in clouds. That and it's distant location helped it remain the only ancient Inca settlement that wasn't discovered by Spain. This significantly impacted the quality of the remaining ruins, which are the most complete out of any other Inca ruins in Peru because they weren't destroyed by other civilizations. For this reason we were able to view the following essentially how they were in thousands of years ago...

Aqueducts

The elaborate system of rivers that the Incas used by harnessing naturally flowing water is incredible. They are present in nearly every part of Machu Picchu.

Ancient Mirrors

When filled with water, circles such as these supposedly served as mirrors in ancient times.

Stone Models of the Mountains

The Incas didn't record data on paper and therefore had no maps, but this rock served as a model of the formations of the surrounding mountains. This was very useful, because it wasn't very often that all of the peaks could be viewed without obstruction from clouds. 

The Hut of the Caretaker of the Funerary Rock

The building at the top of the mountain is where the caretaker of the funerary rock (or the rock they used to mummify nobility) lived. From here is where most people take the "traditional" Machu Picchu picture. Here's mine...

A bit foggy, but it still gets two thumbs up!

The Sun Temple

One of the most pristinely made buildings in Machu Picchu that was used for astronomical observation and studies. 

Spiritual Sound Chambers

Apparently, the Incas used to put their heads in the shelf-like chambers and listen to the vibrations that passed from one chamber to the next. The loud humming sound was said to help the Incas attain a higher level of spiritual consciousness. 

Intihuatana

Not a sundial, but rather a device to help predict the solstices and take advantage of longer summer days for growing crops.

The Inca Bridge

This is how the Incas were to flee the city if enemies invaded. Note the "flying staircases" (aka the two diagonal lines on either side of the bridge). The Incas apparently had really good balance to be able to use the staircases that were just small rocks sticking out of the mountain side.

At this point of the trail to the Inca bridge the path dropped off at least a couple hundred feet... I'm not sure how I managed to smile in this picture, because I'm sure I was thinking about the man who tried to cross the Inca bridge a few years back and fell off the cliff to his death. Luckily they installed a black rope to hang on to, but somehow the fear of falling off the cliff (even though I had no intention of crossing the bridge like the man did) seemed to make me feel unbalanced. Not a good combination. Needless to say, there was absolutely no extra space between me and the side wall while I shimmied my way to and fro the Inca bridge.

After going to the Inca bridge, we ran into Walter's family and took a picture of him and his son, Chan, together. Of course they have matching hats and were just adorable!

To finish out our time at Machu Picchu we sat down for  a while and just really soaked it all it. It was everything I thought it would be and more! All in all it was an absolutely spectacular day!