Day 8 - Inca Trail - Day 4 - Machu Picchu/Aguas Caliente
I know this is blurry but this pic gives you an idea at how early we set off in the morning for Machu Picchu
This is pretty much the last uphill before reaching the Sun Gate. Unfortunately, the steepness was quite unexpected so I went up this while wearing my poncho. I had to scramble up this on all fours.
A lot of the groups chilled out at the Sun Gate…these people were bad though for sitting on top of the gate. Us, culturally minded people, hung out on the trail.
Carefully walk near the edge…
Pretty glad to have finally made it…
The windy road down is actually the bus trail from Aguas Caliente to Machu Picchu
[Picture from Margaret]
Group photo at the Sun Gate
The long road down
Llamas!!!
This one was pretty inquisitive. As I walked away, I run this running sound/thumping behind me only to find that he/she had come closer to me. Pretty freaky…
I like walking next to edges…
Really interesting clouds
Llama gifts
Llamas are cool
[Picture from Margaret]
[Picture from Margaret]
Come on….I’m trying to take a picture here!
Aldo and Ozzy
Goofing off…
[Picture from Margaret] Margaret didn’t like the fact that it looked like she was cringing in the picture before…
Finally we made it!
Group shot in front of Machu Picchu. Actually this is missing the British Marine guy and his Oregonian girlfriend.
Machu Picchu from the farming terraces
360 of Machu Picchu
One section of Machu Picchu has fallen into disrepair. Mainly this happened around the time it was discovered.
Lol
Crypt underneath the Sun Room (the sun shines through the windows during certain events such as the solstices)
Another cool doorway
Huge millipede
[Picture from Margaret]
Look at that uniformity
When it’s not as important, the stonework was kind of shoddy
Lots of animal life among the stones
Cool buildings without roofs
A bathroom
Clovers
A lot of steep steps all around Machu Picchu
As you can see…
People didn’t need Stairmasters back then…
The Sun Room from above
The Sun Gate is in the middle far away.
This is how stones were split apart. They would makes holes along a natural break in the stone. Put a wedge of wood in them and then add water. The water would make the wood expand to the point of splitting the stone.
No, they aren’t dead…just lazing around
[Picture from Margaret] Huge Sundial
The trail to the Inca Bridge is at the top to the right.
You HAVE to be careful on the edge
Quite a lot of farming terraces…
Natural slide
Lots of rocks
Stairmaster
Hehehehe, I sent this pic to Emily because it reminded me of her. Asian women and their umbrellas
Next to the main gate…
Other side of the gate
Getting cozy on the edge…
Incan sidesteps to get from terrace to terrace.
I put my Oakleys in front of my lens as a makeshift polarizer…I would have gotten really cool pics with one….sigh…next time
The difference is quite striking
Getting to the Inca Bridge was a little scary just because it was narrower and a fall would most certainly be fatal.
My trusty walking stick that I left behind at Aguas Caliente
The bus I took down to Aguas Caliente
Aguas Caliente
Statue in the main plaza of Aguas Caliente
Our porters were still preparing to leave…
The train we took back to Ollaytatambo
[Picture from Margaret] Checking out the postcards…I sent 3…
Is that water safe to drink?
I really like this rug
Market at Aguas Caliente…right outside the train station
[Picture from Margaret] The town of Aguas Caliente is very quaint
Another cool rug
Getting on the Incarail Train
There was a little trouble with the tickets because we had to leave early in order to avoid a transportation strike that would have stranded us in Aguas Caliente
Inside the train
We met an Argentinean and his daughter on vacation. This was her 15th birthday present.
[Picture from Margaret] So nice riding in the train and to be finally off our feet. Another day or two and I’d definitely have had blisters.
[Picture from Margaret] This was at the first broaster that we went to…
[Picture from Margaret] Bimbos
Peru Trip 2005
