MACHU PICCHU

The Big Day Arrives Early

 

We had to catch the Vista dome Train from the nearby town of Ollantaytambo (Olly) to the locals. The plan was to take the train to the base of the mountain and explore for a day and a half. We had to drag ourselves out of the Villa quite early for ol' folks like us. So we opted for sleep instead of breakfast.  We gave the cooks the day off and just whipped us up a sandwich or two for the train.

 

 

The train leaves from a station about halfway down the valley.  That valley quickly becomes not much more than a canyon. 

 

 

Surprisingly we were rarely more than a few hundred yards from someones farm. This surprised me, I had expected wilderness.

 

 

The train followed the Urubamba River the whole way.

 

 

 

Aguas Calientes

The hub of all activity near Macchu Pichu is the small town of Aguas Calientes whose name means of course hot waters after the hot springs in town or the trouble some may get in celebrating the end of hiking the famed Inka Trail.

 

 

Reviews had us expecting not much more than a shanty town. And yes it pays to not look to carefully but......

 

 

....over all we found it to be full of it's on charm.

 

 

The square was tidy and the side streets although all running up hill were worth the climb to explore. 

 But remember that little germ I picked up a day ago?  It was starting to look like it may have been festering in the gut of all those who  ordered the chicken after the Pisac visit. Two down two to go.  With two days filled with train rides, bus rides and hiking it wasn't looking good.....sigh

 

Macchu Picchu

 

 

The long line is for the only bathrooms at the Macchu Piccu ruins.  Not what the last two standing wanted to see.

 

 

 

The Inca Ruins of Machu Piccu are breathtaking. The history and explanation to involved for this blog,  so enjoy the photos.

 

 

 

It was a long exciting two days and as the train took us back to the station at sunset the full moon was rising.  Did the  serene sight help to ease the sore ham strings or the sore tummy muscles?  I doubt it.  Now the remaining three who had eaten the chicken were recovering and they just wanted to go to bed for a long time.