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FROM URUBAMBA, PERU

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Day 9: Finally, Machu Picchu

MT. URUBAMBA, Peru, July 6, 2008 - It seemed the day would never come.  We've been here now nearly nine days, and still have not been to the most famous of the Inka sites - Machu Picchu.  Today, Sunday, July 6, that day has finally arrived.

We rose early so we would make the bus and then the train ride to Machu Picchu, the only way nowadays one can get to the treasure of the Inka culture that the Spaniards never discovered.  For those of you who have not been to Machu Picchu, it is interesting to note hat you actually DESCEND to it from where we started, following the Urubamba river downstream. 

Our monastery was at about a 9,200 ft elevation.  By the time we made it to Machu Picchu train station (above left), we were at less than 7,500 ft.  From there, we began to ASCEND again on a local bus to about 8,500 ft elevation, where Machu Picchu is.

So as you can see, with all this up and down, two buses plus a long train ride, even today, it is a bit of a hassle getting there.  No wonder the Spanish never found Machu Picchu.  But once you do reach it, the views are magnificent (middle right).  And we were also greeted at our destination by beautiful large and very fragrant flowers (right).

And now, here are some typical postcard views of Machu Picchu...

...and some other ones you will not necessarily find it picture albums.  Yet they show how mountainous the area about Machu Picchu is, and why Waimi Picchu, the famous peak that seems to pop up in all pictures (left and right), seems to be focal point where all these energies lines from the surrounding peaks converge.

You can also see James in the right photo form a sort of a cross with his body and hands as he saluted Waimi Picchu.

Meanwhile, we, humans, weren't the only "wild life" at the site.  A number of gorgeous-looking alpacas grazed peacefully, seemingly oblivious to the tourists around them.  And just like there are "black sheep," there are apparently "black alpacas," as well as men and women in black (right).  :-)

By the way, the real Machu Picchu is not that pointy peak that is shown in every postcard (right, with the Temple of the Sun in the foreground).  In between the two mountaintops, there are deep gorges and valleys that nowadays include even some sort of manmade pipelines (middle right).

Check out this video I made that will give you a 360-degree view from the same spot.

Machu Picchu Peru, July 6, 2008, Part 1 of 5 (1:35 mins)

And now, here is a video clip taken at some of the incredibly acoustic little holes in the walls of some Machu Picchu chambers...

Machu Picchu Peru, July 6, 2008, Part 2 of 5 (54 secs)

"Hitching Post" - Unhitched

The left shot shows a great varieties of plants and flowers that sill grow here, including some coca leaves bushes.  The middle right shot is that of the "hitching post."  The Inkas, the perennial sun worshippers, believed they could lasso the sun to it so it would never leave them.

This is where I got into a bit of trouble with the local guards.  While "feeling the energy" with my fingers at this spot (leftmost shot), as everybody else seemed to be doing, I leaned over and actually touched the stone (middle left).  I didn't know it beforehand, but evidently I was not supposed to do it.  Linda, an avid photographer from Canada, captured the moment with her camera. 

She later wrote to me, enclosing these photos and displaying a great sense of humor: "I could probably bribe you with that one, as I have proof that you were actually touching the stone... tsk tsk. I'm sure the authorities would be interested.  But .....OK,  OK. since we went through all of those wonderful things together, I'll let you off with a warning this time."  :-)

I took a picture of the wall with stone posts jutting out (right) not just because of the pretty view, but also to show you how the Inkas tied their thatched roofs to these posts.

And now, here are some video-clip views of Waimi Picchu from the lowest levels of terraces...

Machu Picchu Peru, July 6, 2008, Part 3 of 5 (42 sec)

This is where you will also find this enormous slab of natural rock that symbolizes Pacha Mama (Mother Earth - two left shots).  On most of our hikes, we were asked to "buddy up," so nobody would wonder off and get lost by themselves.  My buddy was Donna from Florida (right two shots), descending down some steps with a breathtaking scenery in the background.

I don't remember anymore what the significance of these two bowls filled with water was, except that it has something to do with the sun reflecting off their surface.

The above four shots are of the condor temple.  Actually, when I looked closely, I saw three condor images.  Once a birdman, always a birdman... :-)

Well, when we went downstairs to the lowest levels of Machu Picchu, we did not think of the uphill return journey.  Take at a look at how steep it was (left). It was a good warm up for tomorrow's trek to the high mountains.  The middle left shot is a close up of the Temple of the Sun, while the middle right shows more of those posts on which the roofs were supposed to hang.  Finally, the rightmost photo illustrates the high quality of masonry and stone craftsmanship that the Inkas had mastered.

Back in the town of Machu Picchu, you can see quite an eclectic collection of designs.  The leftmost picture could have been taken somewhere around Hong Kong, while the middle left once again depicts the Christian and the Inka symbols.  My "buddy" Donna is checking out the church interior in the middle right shot, while the rightmost picture shows the train station, with rails running right through the center of town.

Here is one of the shopping streets that runs straight up into the hill.  The green feathery friend is yet another bird that I befriended on this trip.  Finally, the rightmost shot was taken with my cell phone. I had no idea bare legs of the two British tourists were featured front and bottom center when I text it to some of my friends and family. :-)  Oh wel...

During our train ride home (back to the monastery), we were treated to a music and "fashion show" by the train conductors (above).  Here are also a couple of video clips that will show you the jovial party atmosphere that permeated the train.

Machu Picchu Peru, July 6, 2008, Part 4 of 5 (59 secs)

 Machu Picchu Peru, July 6, 2008, Part 5 of 5 (1:48 secs)

And that's all she wrote from this Day 9 of our Peru adventure.  Tomorrow morning at 4AM, we are to rise and shine and head for the mountains...

Love  Light 

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