Cuzco & The Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu

So today we got back to Lima from our three day trip to the Andes. It was quite a journey to go to Machu Picchu and back. First we had to take a 1 hour flight from Lima to Cuzco...


[aboard the plane on the way to Cuzco]

and then a 2-hour taxi ride thru the Sacred Valley, driving thru Chinchero, Urubamba and then finally to Ollantaytambo.


[taxi ride thru Sacred Valley]


[Urubamba down below]


[Peruvian girl in Urubamba]

From Ollantaytambo we boarded a train that took us to Aguas Calientes, which was formerly known as Machu Picchu Pueblo. The train ride took another 2 hours.







Arriving in Aguas Calientes, we were exhausted so we both took a nap. Aguas Calientes is a small town littered with small hotels called hostals. Ours was dead in front of the railway.



The next day we took a 15-minute bus to take us atop the mountain where Machu Picchu is located. It was incredible, the sight is extraordinary. First we hiked up to what's called the Guard's Hut. At this spot, we have a good panoramic view of Machu Picchu including Huayna Picchu in the back.



There were a few alpacas grazing and chilling in Machu Picchu.



We followed this path for about 25 minutes until we reached this Incan bridge built by the rocky mountain face.


[Incan Bridge]

We roamed around and took some more pictures.



[Me at ground level in Machu Picchu]


["Three Windows"]

And even more pictures.


[J posing with the stone Inca tribesmen pray to before climbing Huayna Picchu]

After spending about 4 hours in Machu Picchu, we headed back to Aguas Calientes via bus. In the morning, we were headed back to Cuzco. A 2-Hour train ride and then a 2 hour taxi ride. On the way we decided to make a stop at Saqsaywaman. I think it's the biggest ruins found in the Sacred Valley.


[Saqsaywaman]


[J scaling the walls]

The taxi driver who took us back to Cuzco was named Wilmer. He's very friendly, he even took us to this hotel which was better and cheaper than the one I made reservations to weeks earlier. Cuzco is more than 3000m above sea level, so we're feeling light headed. Drinking coca leaf tea helps "Mate de Coca".


[Mate de Coca]


[The view from our hotel]

After a brief rest we had our meal. Mine was "Pollo Saltado".

J's was omelette.


Our hotel is in an alley stemming from Cuzco's Plaza de Armas.

[Plaza de Armas]

As the sun sets, the temperature is noticeably cooler.


A lot of the buildings around town are old, the small brick-laden roads (esquenita?) that criss cross the town provide a nice atmosphere.


[esquenitas]

Here is the famous 12-angled stone found in Cuzco.


[12-angled stone]

We visited the Museo de Inca and then when we got out, there were these 2 Cuzco native ladies in their native clothing, one of whom was carrying a baby on her back.


[Cuzco ladies]