A South American Journey:

I left Orlando Dec 3,

2007, and over the next
month, visited several
countries in South
America.
I started in Lima, Peru,
traveled to Cuzco City,
Urubamba and the
Sacred Valley, then
finished the first part of
my trip in the recently
uncovered ancient city of
Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu, Peru
We took the Vistadome train from
Cuzco to Aguas Caliente, the local
town at the foot of Machu Picchu.
The train had roof windows which
made it easier to appreciate the
mountain valley we rode through. A
snack and hot drink were also
included.
From Aguas Caliente, we took a 20-
minute bus ride up to Machu Picchu.
The ride itself was spectacular - the
narrow road was a bit scary at times
with almost vertical drops plunging
down into the valley below!
Coming back down, we were greeted at each switchback
by a 10-year old Peruvian boy who yelled adios and
waved at us. He had to run down several flights of steps
to get to each switchback in order to see us again and
climbed aboard the bus at the very bottom to collect a very
well-earned reward.
From the top, at the cliff of
Machu Picchu, there is a
vertical rock face of 600
meters ending at the foot
of the Urubamba River.
Some researchers think the
location of the city was a
military secret because its
deep precipices and
mountains were an
excellent natural defense.
Another theory maintains Machu Picchu was an Incan
"llacta": a settlement built up to control the economy of
the conquered regions and it may have been built with the
purpose of protecting the most select of the Incan
aristocracy in the event of an attack.
The Urubamba River
below the city.
Further research has convinced most
archaeologists that, rather than a defensive
retreat, Machu Picchu was an estate of the
Inca emperor Pachacuti. In addition,
evidence suggests the site was selected
based on its position relative to sacred
landscape features, especially mountains in
alignment with key astronomical events.
Forgotten for centuries by all except for a few locals,
the site was brought to worldwide attention in 1911
by American historian Hiram Bingham.
The city rises from the mists and
the clouds the day we visited.
Since then, Machu Picchu has become an important
tourist attraction and it was declared a Peruvian
Historical Sanctuary in 1981 and a UNESCO World
Heritage Site in 1983. It is also one of the New
Seven wonders of the World.
Huayna Picchu - (Young Peak)
opposite Machu Picchu, (Old Peak).
Machu Picchu is a pre-
Columbian Inca site located
at 7,970 ft above sea level
on a mountain ridge above
the Urubamba Valley in
Peru, about 44 miles
northwest of Cuzco.
Often referred to as "The Lost City of the
Incas", Machu Picchu is probably the
most familiar symbol of the Inca Empire.
One of the thatched
(restored) houses in the
upper part of the city.
It was built around the year 1450
and abandoned a hundred years
later, at the time of the Spanish
conquest of the Inca Empire.
The city is composed of 140 constructions including
temples, sanctuaries, parks and residences (houses
with thatched roofs). The primary buildings are the
Intihuatana, the Temple of the Sun and the Room of
the Three Windows.
The city lies below. At one
time, the buildings all had
thatched roofs but now
are open to let visitors see
into them easier.
Another view of the city.
Carved rock used for preparing royalty
for burial. Estimates are that no more
than 1000 people lived at Machu Picchu
at any one time. Very few graves and
bones were discovered when the city
was excavated.
Closer look at the ruins. Only royalty and nobles
lived in Machu Picchu. This included teachers!
These were some of the many varieties of
orchids and succulents growing in the area.
Looking
down to the
valley from
one of the
guard
houses atop
the city.
I was on a guided
tour along with
several other
people. Our small
group was a
married couple
from NY city Dan
and Mary Anne
and two ladies
who had been
friends since first
grade Merry
(from Allentown,
Pa) and Judith
(from San Mateo,
Cal). We all had a
wonderful time
traveling together.
The Young Peak is shrouded
in clouds behind me. Machu
Picchu lies below.
Another group shot of
us with the city below.
Sitting in front of one of the few rooms that actually
had windows reserved only for royalty usually the
High Priests. The cut-out areas were for statues and
idols of the Inca gods.
Some of the huge boulders which
had been hauled up the side of the
mountain. Experts think the Inca left
very suddenly but dont know why.
This was one of the areas
where nobles such as
teachers or priests would
have lived.
Machu Picchu was built in a classic Inca architectural
style of polished dry-stone walls. The Incas were
masters of this technique, called ashlar, in which blocks
of stone are cut to fit together tightly without mortar.
Many junctions in the
central city are so
perfect that not even a
knife fits between the
stones.
The Incas never used the wheel in any practical
manner. How they moved and placed enormous
blocks of stones is a mystery, although the general
belief is that they used hundreds of men to push the
stones up inclined planes.
Entrance to the Temple you can see the
symbol of the Condor sacred to the Inca the
outstretched wings on the walls and the beak
carved in a rock on the ground.
Merry looking at the carved
rock inside the temple.
Another look
inside the temple.
There are more than one hundred flights of stone steps
often completely carved from a single block of granite
and a great number of water fountains, interconnected by
channels and water-drainages perforated in the rock,
designed for the original irrigation system.
Evidence has been found to
suggest that the irrigation
system was used to carry
water from a holy spring to
each of the houses in turn.
Entrance to the
kings bedroom.
Looking up at the fortress above the kings room.
The only person who
had his own private
bathroom was the
Inca king. This was
taken from the royal
chamber looking
down the hallway to
the bathroom around
the corner.
Notice again how the
rocks fit together
perfectly without
using mortar. The
rocks were joined
together like puzzle
pieces. Some of the
rocks weighed more
than a ton.
This is the only private bathroom in the whole city
and it was down the hall from the kings bedroom.
The royal princess was the only other noble to have her
own room. This is her bed in her room in the temple. It
was located next to the kings room as well.
The Inca carved these rocks and filled them with
water to use them as mirrors.
Machu Picchu, Peru