Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Another exciting day ahead as we head to Machu Picchu, but they (whoever they are) sure make it difficult for the tourist. We left at about 6 am to take a taxi to the next town about 5 miles away to catch the train. The train used to come to Cusco, but does not any more.

We got to the train station early and waited close to an hour before boarding. Then it was about a three hour ride mostly through a very scenic, narrow mountain valley following the Urubamba River (also called the Villcanota River). After the train ride we then had to catch a bus and finally got to the gate for the ruins.

How does one describe one of the wonders of the world. The Incas were not the greatest artists in pre-hispanic South America, but they were great engineers, astronomers, organizers, and warriors. As to being warriors, one guide later said that they were the first culture to not practice human sacrifice. Most or all others before them did practice it, and decapitation seemed to be the preferred method.

When we entered we had two choices, either go to the right directly into the many buildings or to the left which was to a high point called the guard house. We all went to the left which meant climbing a few hundred not really flat steps, but it was well worth it as one gets views that are most famous for travel brochures and other promotions.

We could see to the left where the royalty and high officials resided and to the right where the general populace (laborers and craftsmen??) were located. We went down into this labyrinth and could confirm from the quality of the stonework where the different populations resided. The stones of the royalty and the religious areas were highly polished and fit together without a crack, but in other areas the stonework though still quite good was not of the same quality.

We did not hire a guide for this ruin: Allen and Beth provided an informative narrative that had much more information than I could retain.

We saw how the builders had created little canals and fountains in the stonework to bring water to the different areas from springs. We saw one room which had a window that looked into anther room with a window and so on so that one could look in the first window and see through the last because they were so well lined up.

We made it through the site in about three hours which was just right in time for getting back to the train and another ride through beautiful mountain scenery.

Then it was back to the hotel and later a walk to the Israeli restaurant where I had a bowl of chicken soup because the Cipro antibiotic I started that afternoon had not yet gotten ahead of the latest intestinal irritation. That would take another full day, but the Cipro eventually did the trick.

Sorry for no photos. I am off to lunch and an afternoon tour, and then tomorrow it will be a 5-1/2 hour bus ride to Arequipa where there is an interesting monastery and hopefully an overnight trip to Colca canyon where I am told I will be guaranteed to see flying Andean condors.