At Machu Picchu

Nov 30, 2014:  


We had paid up the hotel when we checked in.


Early morning, we packed up our small overnight bag and left it in the room. 

Hotel people will come in later and keep bags in their office...

5.30am we boarded the MP bus. 

There are several taking off one after another. 

After a 40 min ride up, reached the famed entrance. 

We had bought our tickets to MP online a month ago.

We had to checkin our hiking pole; allowed for only people>60.   

There were clouds and a little fog 

but we went ahead following our map. 

In ½ hour the fog had lifted; 

 the whole citadel stretched out before our eyes in all its glory. 

Here we are at the guard's hut at the entrance...

People were being bitten to pieces by sand flies, we had been adequately warned thanks to the huge thread on that topic in the tripadvisor forum. We had OFF Towelettes, we wiped ourselves well, we were also wearing full sleeves and long trousers. Despite that I had 6 bites on my hands and it itched for a week!

Royal Tomb: This cave-like area behind contains ceremonial niches and an Inca cross carved from one wall and is adjacent to the Temple of the Sun. The cross resembles a series of steps, and represents the three levels of existence in the world of the Inca. The first step, symbolized by the snake, represents the underworld or death. The second step represents the present, human life, and is symbolized by the jaguar. The highest step represents the celestial/spiritual plane of the gods, and is symbolized by the condor

Inside this Royal Tomb numerous mummy excavations had been made. Of more than 100 skeletal remains discovered here, 80% were women. This fact, among others, leads many historians to surmise that the area was inhabited primarily by high priests and chosen women


To the left of the royal tomb lies a series of 16 ceremonial baths, joined by one linked aqueduct system.

This is the temple of the Sun

Home of the Incas...

This Temple of the Condor is a great example of Inca stone masonry. A natural rock formation began to take shape millions of years ago and the Inca skillfully shaped the rock into the outspread wings of a condor in flight. On the floor of the temple is a rock carved in the shape of the condor's head and neck feathers, completing the figure of a three-dimensional bird. The head of the condor was used as a sacrificial altar. Under the temple is a small cave that contained a mummy. A prison complex stands directly behind the temple, and is comprised of human-sized niches and an underground maze of dungeons. According to historical chronicles that documented similar Inca prison sites, an accused citizen would be shackled into the niches for up to 3 days to await the deliberation of his fate. He could be put to death for such sins as laziness, lust, or theft.

Across the Central Plaza and at the far end of Machu Picchu is this Sacred Rock, an object common to every Inca village. Before a village could be erected, a sacred stone must be dedicated to the site. The Sacred Stone of Machu Picchu sits at the base of Huayna Picchu (little peak) and the outline is a replica of the mountain

 Sacred Plaza. Surrounding the plaza are the most important buildings of the city. The Principal Temple is an example of excellent Inca stonemasonry, with its large stone blocks polished smooth and joined perfectly

Sacred plaza with the temple of 3 windows to the side

River Urubamba meandering below

The Intiwatana,  the "hitching post of the sun" is a carved rock pillar whose four corners are oriented toward the four cardinal points. The Inca were accomplished astronomers, and used the angles of the pillar to predict the solstices. The sun exerted a crucial influence on the agriculture, and therefore the well-being of the whole society. It was considered the supreme natural god. At the winter solstice on June 21, the high priest would rope a golden disc to the Intiwatana, to symbolically catch the sun and bring it back toward earth for another year's cycle of seasons. The Intiwatana here is the only one of its kind not lopped off by the Spanish conquerors, who made a point of destroying all implements of Inca religion. 

 Machu Picchu is one of the Earth's magnetic focal points, and carries an inherent spiritual or metaphysical power. 

When we sit at the edge of the Sacred Plaza overlooking the Urubamba River below, the stone temples and plazas to the front, and the mountain peaks of Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu to the left and right, we feel the magic!!

The stone quarry

This is the trail to the sungate.. we started on it, but were bugged by incessant sand flies. It was starting to become hot as well. We reluctantly decided to leave

We had a snack sitting at this bench... so scenic... we had been scared to sit elsewhere because of the sand flies. Surprisingly a girl was immersed in her book and totally ignored the glorious scene around... well, it takes all sorts to make this world so interesting!!

The sun was up and blazing by 10.30, crowds were coming in, so we reluctantly bid goodbye to the awesome site. Took the 11.30 bus back down. 

We had bought the 4.30 expedition ticket back to ollantaytambo. We talked to the Perurail officials, they traded the tickets for the vistadome leaving at 1. Very sweet of them. We had a great time on the journey back too, enjoying the scenery and even joining the dance!