It's no wonder that Machu Picchu was named one of the new wonders of the world. It is virtually impossible to see this site without being affected by it.
There are only two ways to reach this abandoned settlement where more than 800 Incans once lived: a 3-day hike up the Incan trail or 90 minutes by train on Peru Rail. We took the train.
Along the way, we could see the trail the hikers took, which only reinforced our view that we were the lucky ones.
After an hour and a half, we arrived at Aguas Calientes and immediately boarded buses that took us up dusty stone roads with narrow switchbacks that required our bus to move aside for the oncoming ones.After about forty minutes we reached Machu Picchu.
It's hard to imagine how the people found this location in the 1430's and harder still to conceive of their building for more than fifty years to establish their homes and temples with such precision and so few tools.
The settlement was established with the temples on one side, with terraced meeting areas separating the temples form the residential side. Most everything was aligned with the dawning sun of the summer solstice.
This particular peak was important, and they carved a stone to mimic its shape.
In some cases, they used the large stones in place and built around them.
The trapezoidal windows were lined up with one another.
These small reflecting pools were designed to be used as mirrors.
We climbed up to this little house at the top of the settlement (below).
We took these pictures from that little house. We could see the entire city from that vantage point. (And I have proof that I actually made it to the top!)
1 comment:
I believe that Wal-Mart and McDonald's are planing to open at the top....opening date to be Dec. 21st, 2012--or is that the end of the world? -Kathy
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