Machu Picchu

Saturday began early. We needed to be out to the bus by 6:10 a.m. in order to catch the train to Machu Picchu. It had been a short and for many a rough night. The lingering effects of the lack of sleep and the altitude were still affecting some. However, somehow all of us got up, fed, and to the bus in time.

The train ride took about 4 hours. The first part was especially fascinating because the initial climb out of Cusco is so steep that the train has to drive forward a while, then change tracks and back up the hill for a while, then changes tracks again and go forward. By scissoring back and forth it made a high vertical climb and then descended most of the rest of the way to Machu Picchu. We stopped at a few stations along the way and the ubiquitous vendors swarmed the train, selling their wares to passengers through open windows.

When we got to the train station at the base of the mountains where Machu Picchu is we climbed aboard a bus and took a 20 minute ride up the mountain. After checking some of our extra stuff in to some lockers at the entrance, and fishing around for the third ticket of the day, we climbed a few stairs along those remarkable Inca walls made with mortarless-perfectly-carved-and-fit-together stones. All at once we came around a corner to the breathtaking view of one of Machu Picchu. The high-cloud-filtered sun made the green terraces glow against the contrast of the dark stones of the walls and buildings of the ancient sacred Incan city-in-the-clouds.

Our guide Ofelia was great (as has been all the staff of Lamanita travel by the way). She is smiley, cheerful, and very knowledgeable. She was also patient with our slow pace and natural Haynie-goofiness. After the initial view and explanation Becky and Connie went back down to the entrance to wait for the rest of us as we hiked all over the city. However, dad (wobbly legs and all) was indomitable and went everywhere up and down the steep steps stopping occasionally to catch his breath. This place still feels sacred and is so beautiful! Linda said it just displaced Iguazu Falls on the list of the most beautiful places she's ever visited. We spent several hours learning about the history, climbing to get new-and-ever-changing perspectives, looking a ancient altars, tombs, sundials, water-courses (which still function by the way--I got a water bottle full of the same mountain spring water that the Incas channeled all over the city).

After returning down the mountain's treacherous switchbacks in a bus we has some dinner at a local restaurant as we waited for the train. Part way back the train stopped in the dark and the train staff got out and walked about with flashlights. Apparently there was a landslide that had covered the tracks ahead. Thankfully it was on a straightaway so they were able to see it in their headlight in time to stop safely. The repair crew took about an hour-and-a-half to get us going again. Because of the delay our guide called ahead and got our Lamanita Travel bus to pick us up at the final station stop before all the slow switch-back track so we got home sooner than the other hapless fellow passengers.