Machu Picchu

Well we had an amazing weekend traveling to Machu Picchu! We are saving the Inka Trail experience for our trip with Ryan in May, but we decided to join Vanessa (our other friend from Pennsylvania!)for a preliminary glimpse and day trip to the world wonder on this final weekend before she heads back to the states. The traveling included a bus and train ride to Aguas Calientes, tucked in at the foot of the Machu Picchu mountains beside the raging Rio Urubamba. We stayed in a quaint hippie hostel for 5 dollars per night where we enjoyed the zen-like atmosphere despite contrasting smells of marijuana, musty wood, and poo. The sheets weren´t quite clean, but I spruced mine up using a baby wipe. We slept well the night before our adventure, although we were conviced the rain was falling in torrents only to realize that the sound was mostly coming from the river right next to our room.

We woke up at 4:30am and took one of the first buses to Machu Picchu. We entered the monumental site in a misty haze that prevented us from seeing much. We found the Huayna Picchu peak poking through the clouds and started heading that way. By 7:30am we were on our way up the steep and wet rocky steps that led to an amazing view of the ruins below. As we walked, the mist lifted and the clouds gave way to an awe-inspiring view that brought us both to near tears. It is a mystery what the Machu Picch buildings were actually built for, but there is definitely something very spritual about the carefully contructed walls and towering mountains around them. At the top of the mountain, we stopped on a ledge and relaxed for over an hour allowing Cullen to take a nap (and recover from earlier bouts of stomach problems that we will spare the details on now) and allowing me to come as close as ever to meditating. I will never forget that hour spent in relative solitude.

Later, the crowds came in and we continued further on a long and strenuous hike down, around, and back up the mountain. It`s not true that you can`t bring water with you, but we had only packed very little with the expectation that they would make us throw it out if they found it. So halfway back to the main trail, we ran out of water and energy, and by then the sun was pounding us through the lush vegetation. We probably didn`t enjoy the fantastic views at that point as much as we should have and just bulleted for the nearest water vendor outside the premesis. The rest of the day was spent meandering through other smaller hills overlooking the ruins and gawking at the local llamas. We hiked the 1.5 hour hike back down to Aguas Calientes rather than taking the bus, and now I am aware of how out of shape we are because neither of us can hardly walk today. We just ate a hardy meal of Peruvian fast food at Bembas (the local version of McDonalds) so we are feeling grand again! Ready for the next week....