Machu Picchu
Wednesday, July 28th, 2010Machu Picchu is spectacular and even exceeds our expectations. The location perched high on the side of a mountain is truly incredible. We feel like we are on top of the world. The ruins are extensive and well-preserved. So much to explore! The royal palace, temple of the sun, sacred plaza, residential houses, aqueducts, terraced farmlands and endless passageways. Unfortunately, we can only spend a couple hours there since we need to catch the train back to Cusco, however, we could easily stay for two days.
The trip to and from Machu Picchu is intense: wake up at 6am, 20 minute taxi to the train station, 4 hours train ride to Aguas Caliente, 20 minute terror bus ride to Machu Picchu, then the reverse at the end of the day, finally returning to Cusco at 8:30pm. Fortunately, Machu Picchu is about 3,000 feet lower than Cusco, so it is much easier to walk through the ruins and climb the many staircases.
Many travelers complain about the crowds at Machu Picchu, and yes, the place it filled with tourists and the costs reflect tourist prices. However, I find that the cost is unimportant for visiting such an amazing place. And Machu Picchu is plenty spacious enough to accommodate all of the visitors. Several people “escape” the crowds by finding a quiet spot and having a picnic. Again, I wish that we have more time to just sit and enjoy the stunning site.
We spend our last day in Cusco resting, shopping and visiting the cathedral. The cathedral is actually three churches joined together, built in the 1500s and 1700s, and is the most ornate cathedral that we have seen on the whole trip. I especially like the painting of the Last Supper, which shows cuy (guinea pig) as the supper. Yum!
Cusco is a shopper’s paradise. Sweaters, ponchos, jackets, hats, scarves, gloves, blankets, slippers, stuffed animals, rugs, etc. all made from alpaca. The artisan market is colorful and jammed with goods. We have done little shopping thus far and buying authentic Peruvian items is a treat.
We leave for Lake Titicaca tomorrow to visit the floating islands. Titicaca is actually higher then Cusco so our visit may be brief so that we can get to a more comfortable altitude.
hwy1alltheway