One of the the reasons why it is still intact
untouched except for the straw roofs
is that the Spanish conquistadores never did find it...they destroyed all that was "native" in order to colonize,evangelize and utilize...to suppress, rule and exploit this land that had so much to offer in terms of resources....
MachuPicchu is the smaller mountain in the photo, and the bigger mountain Waynapicchu, is like big brother protecting in the background
Those fit of knees can do an extra 2 hour climb up this larger mountain...
The city is built on the foot to these mountains thus taking the name of the mountain closest... which means in the local Quechua language, "old Mountain".
Machupicchu is in part of the Amazon jungle and lies of the Inka sacred valley, it's high up in the mountains, always covered in mist and clouds adding to the mystic....
one minute you see the ruins, you blink and they are not there
It's 6km up from Aguas Calientes...hot water spa...
I did not bathe...
but the 2 gals did and enjoyed it even though the outside temperatures were freezing
mean while,I sipped a beer in the top bar...and kept the faith about my knee which was killing me...
I kept praying that I would be able to walk the next day..
Thank God I had Angela and Melissa to look after me as I dragged my self around...
"Thanks Angela and Melissa..."
we did it together...
most tourists, us included get bused there...we were at the bus stop by 5.00am...and behind a huge queue...
everyone wants to get there early to catch the sunsrise on a lovey day and also to get a chance to climb up Waynapicchu..there is a control that allows only 400 a day ...
We were not lucky on the day for very clear weather...despite the rain..we enjoyed great views and a magical time
the ambiance around the city is magical, mystical...
Cusco as a city is what it is because of Machupicchu...it is the gateway...all and I mean all tourists come to Peru to see this fabulous INKA city...a lot of Peruvians are always here too as this is a symbol of their country..greatness of their past, untouched...I suppose it is a symbol of what a great nation they were before destruction and forced change...
They probably wonder what their country might have been had this greatness carried on...
For me, I was so awed to witness what this ancient civilization achieved, beauty, fineness, precision...
total harmony with nature
godliness..
Another reason this city stayed undiscovered for so long could be that the only way there until discovery, was on foot...of course locals knew it was there...but did not understand it's significance
Currently access is only by plane or rail...there is no road...the mountains that surround this city are massive and near impossible...or perhaps this is just a way of the government ensuring control and access to the City...
Which ever way the whole visit is well organized in terms of ticket sales, train service and bussing to the top...
The trip begins from Cusco...that's why Cusco is the tourist capital of Peru...then a bus ride to Ollantaytambo, then a train ride Aguas Calientes.... We took this option
Or a chopper ride
or a train ride all the way from Cusco...
Once I had seen on seen Machupicchu, I felt
No comments:
Post a Comment