Friday, August 26, 2022

Day 18 - The Hidden City of Machu Picchu

Today, we boarded the train to Machu Picchu at 7am for the 44km ride from Ollantaytambo.  A nice train station with a nice train and a very well organized operation.  Apparently, they feed 4,000-5,000 visitors everyday to Machu Picchu from here.

The ride down to Machu Picchu follows the deep canyons carved by the Urabamba river.  Inca ruins all around, majestic mountains, and a beautiful setting all around.  The vegetation changes into greener foliage the closer we got to Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of the mountain where Machu Picchu is.

There, we had to get in line to get on buses to be taken up the mountain to the actual archaeological zone.  They have 25 buses constantly running bringing people up and down.  Once at the entrance of Machu Picchu, we climbed for while up some steep steps until ... a view of Machu Picchu down below in all its glory.  

I wonder what makes humans be awed by something ... it seems that nature at its fullest is always involved ... and an overwhelming feeling of admiration of all the creators of the spectacular and sublime thing we are seeing.  

I was here with the family 20 years ago when the site was more open and free.  With these many people visiting everyday, the whole site is more controlled ... 50+ rangers posted everywhere, predefined walking circuits for people to follow ... it is noticeable that preservation is a priority now.  

Just sitting around for long periods of time to admire the views fills the soul with joy. 

After the bus ride down the mountain to Aguas Calientes, we had lunch on the balcony of a restaurant overlooking the main area of town.  Amazing Causa with Ceviche. Peruvian cuisine at its best.  After the train ride back to Ollantaytambo, we went to the Plaza de Armas for a coffee and to see the town below us go about their daily lives.

Dinner was special because of Eva Maria, our waitress.  She was 17 years old with a little brother named Cristian, studying Psychology at the University in Cusco, and living with her mother in Ollantaytambo because her parents were separated ... she made our dinner very special and a lot of fun. 

Tomorrow, we head to Cusco to check on our motorcycles and to get ready for our trip down the other side of the Andes into the Amazon basin on Sunday.


Our train ride from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes at the base of Machu Picchu

Arriving in Aguas Calientes

Boarding the buses to ride up the mountain to Machu Picchu

The surrounding views at the base of Machu Picchu

Our first view of Machu Picchu by the Puerta del Sol

Another view of an amazing site

Walking the streets of Machu Picchu with the Huayna Picchu in the background

Inside the city

Another perspective of a magical place

The view from the balcony at our lunch place in Aguas Calientes

People from all over the world waiting for the train to head back to Ollantaytambo

Boarding the train in Aguas Calientes

The view from our coffee shop in Ollantaytambo with another political demonstration going by

Eva Maria, our waitress for dinner, and the gang of three she picked for a picture

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