Finally, the moment of truth: Machu Picchu

Continue January 7th, we checked into the park and we started our tour around the ruins. As soon as we entered the park my mind went blank. I had seen pictures before, but honestly pictures can’t do it justice.

As a quick note: make sure you use the restrooms before you start your tour inside the ruins, because there are no restrooms in the park. We only pay S/. 1.00 soles to use the restrooms.

As we walked, I saw llamas walking by, unbelievable stonework, agricultural terraces, gardens, etc. The mountain is an exceptional place to find peace, relax, explore nature, and learn the wonders of the Inca civilization. I was filled with joy, and while I was there I forgot about worries and the fact that I was a tourist. The only time I’ve seen something this remarkable was when I went to The Picos de Europa (Peaks of Europe) in the northern coast of Spain.

We stopped a long the way to learn the history of the place. We heard about Hiram Brigham, the American historian, who discovered Machu Picchu, on July 24, 1911, the Temple of the Sun, the Tomb of the Princess or Royal Tomb, The Temple of the Condor, Three-Windows Temple, etc.

The entire city is the only one of its kind, but the areas that caught my attention were The Temple of the Sun, with its semicircular floor plan, rectangular faced stones and perfect joints. The semicircular wall had two windows; one faces towards the east and the other towards the north. This two windows form the observatory in Machu Picchu. The temple had a carved rock altar for the ceremonies they had honoring the Sun.

The Three- Windows Temple, around the Sacred Plaza, was a ceremonial center. The temple had large trapezoidal windows, and although our tourist guide said that this temple was the most captivating section of the city, I don’t share that idea, for me the most captivating section was the Principal Temple, that it’s located next to the Three- Windows Temple. Some may say it’s just a three- walled building that had not been restored and was falling. Exactly, because of those reasons this temple is extraordinary. Yes, the temple was falling, but thanks to the construction of fine stonework, it was still standing.

The Sacred Rock was as exited as the Principal Temple. All of us want to place our hand on it, for good energy and luck for the New Year. They said the Sacred Rock was shaped like the Inca’s sacred mountain of Yanantin, standing behind it. Although, for Edwin looks more like the shape of the Cuy (Guinea Pig).

After a few hours of breathtaking views, we made our way back to the bus. Before we drove back down to town we looked for the geocache outside the park. Unfortunately we were unsuccessful.

On the way down, a local boy raced the bus. When the bus came around the corner the boy would yell in Quechua, “Good by” and some other words that I could not make out. Sometimes he runs behind or beside the bus before he slips back into the mountain. He never lose track of the bus and in each corner he was head to head with the bus. Finally at the bottom he jumps in from of the bus again and the bus driver stops and let the boy on to collect tips.

We made our way back to the hotel. Dinner at the hotel was delicious; some of us had “Lomo Saltado” and “Sopa a la Criolla”, for dessert pancakes covert in chocolate. Everyone sang Happy Birthday to Frank (for the second time-actually was three times, because we did the Spanish version too), and he blew out the candle that the hotel manager give him with a chocolate cake. But every time we sang Happy Birthday to him, he got younger and younger, @_@.

I can’t imagine having a birthday like this one. Frank I don’t know if you agree with me on this one, but your birthday was amazing.

Like I said before, pictures do not do this historical place the justice it deserves. Pictures are one thing, but being there and seeing it in all its glory and beauty makes clear why was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Sven Wonders of the World.

The alarm for next day was set for 4:30am. We are planning to see the sunrise.