Macchu Picchu

The sun wasn't even up when we stumbled our way to the first bus of the day that would bring us up to the mountain top where we would find the most mysterious of ruins left by the Inca, "Machu Picchu". We had taken a bus and train from the beautiful city of Cusco the day before, and this was the last leg of our journey. Now most people think that they have to do the tour from the city. They tell you it's too difficult to reach by yourself. Some even think they are doing something cool, and choose the tour that takes you on a three day hike up the "original Inca trail". It's not! The best way, as with every place I've ever been, is to do it yourself. Meet the locals, ask questions, spend the time to really see the true culture, not just what the tour groups want you to see.

The clouds hovered thickly around us and threatened more rain. As we drove higher and higher into the mountains, the mist closed in so I could only barely see the jagged pinnacles of rock rising all around us. The mountains were so high that they'd grown out of their grass! After about a 20 minute ride, we reached the gate and almost immediately found ourselves looking down upon a breathtaking sight. The mist still covered the mountains but we were right over the fabled royal city and could see down upon all of the hand made rock houses and temples. Hidden for centuries from the Spanish, it was recently found, covered in jungle and restored to the site we see today.

We stayed up on the terraces for quite a while, just enjoying the view. A stray dog tried his luck for some breakfast that I was only too willing to share, for a cuddle. He paid us back with a tour of the upper ledge and we sat for a bit watching the clouds rise. But I knew it wouldn't last for long, because I had my eye on the mountain that towered behind the site. Huaynu Picchu. If any of you have seen a photo, it's the huge mountain just behind the site. We headed down and through the maze of buildings in various stages of ruin, but were more interested in the whole than each individual one. Once on the other side, I knew we had to climb it. I planned to only go to the steep part and then turn back and wait, but, "just a little further" turned into "well, I've come this far" and pretty soon I found myself crawling on all fours, up the steepest, thinnest steps I've ever seen....and wondering how I was going to get back down them!! But Wow!!! The view!! The mist had lifted and everything was green and beautiful. And there was one single house at the very top (a 90 min hike) Who would live up there? The Shaman maybe. Soon the rain came though and we had to start back down. So passing the llama that make this their home, we headed back to the bus that would carry us back down the steep path to our waiting hotsprings.

Macchu Picchu is such a magical place that it just can't be captured in photos or words. But, if any one place is on your bucket list, make it this one. You will never regret the steps you took to get here, whatever they were.