The lost Inca city
We also went to the Sacred Valley, a valley that eventually leads to the lost city of the Incas (Machu Picchu). It is a beautiful valley surrounded by high mountains full of Inca ruins. Our first stop was at a market where we enjoyed some corn and also juice made of black corn. Peru has 383 different types of corn and more than 2000 types of potatoes!
We then visited the hilltop ruins of Pisaq and Ollantaytambo. Quite impressive, especially those at Ollantaytambo. From here we caught the train to Aguas Calientes (meaning hot spring) which is the base for exploring Machu Picchu. The only transport there is by a 2 hour train ride through a beautiful valley next to the Urumba river. We arrived at 10pm at night and were just too glad to hit the bed (best mattresses of our trip!).
Early the next morning we took the bus for the 8km zigzagging ride up the mountain to Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu is spectacular. We were some of the first people there and enjoyed the sunrise over the ruins. The ruins were much bigger and in a much better condition than what we expected. This may be due to the fact that the Spanish invaders never found Machu Picchu and it was only discovered by the outside world in 1911. This comes as no surprise if one considers its location - high on top of a mountain, surrounded by other higher mountains, separated by a river.
The people who build Machu Picchu must have been astronomically advanced as almost every building and stone were specifically positioned relative to the stars and the sun considering the solstices etc. We scaled the mountain called Wayna Picchu (the one often seen behind the city in pictures). The steep 45 minute climb brings one to more ruins on top of that mountain with beautiful views into the valley and over Machu Picchu.
We returned the next day to Ollantaytambo from where we briefly stopped at the big circular ruins of Moray before continuing home to Cusco.
A note on the Incas: the best way to think of them is as of a royal family. Inca means "king" and they were therefore the royal house. They subdued many different cultural groups who became their servants. They were wiped out by the invasion of the Spanish bringing new diseases and using horses in battles - something that frightened the local people as they had never seen horses before. The last Inca was killed in 1572.
We then visited the hilltop ruins of Pisaq and Ollantaytambo. Quite impressive, especially those at Ollantaytambo. From here we caught the train to Aguas Calientes (meaning hot spring) which is the base for exploring Machu Picchu. The only transport there is by a 2 hour train ride through a beautiful valley next to the Urumba river. We arrived at 10pm at night and were just too glad to hit the bed (best mattresses of our trip!).
Early the next morning we took the bus for the 8km zigzagging ride up the mountain to Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu is spectacular. We were some of the first people there and enjoyed the sunrise over the ruins. The ruins were much bigger and in a much better condition than what we expected. This may be due to the fact that the Spanish invaders never found Machu Picchu and it was only discovered by the outside world in 1911. This comes as no surprise if one considers its location - high on top of a mountain, surrounded by other higher mountains, separated by a river.
The people who build Machu Picchu must have been astronomically advanced as almost every building and stone were specifically positioned relative to the stars and the sun considering the solstices etc. We scaled the mountain called Wayna Picchu (the one often seen behind the city in pictures). The steep 45 minute climb brings one to more ruins on top of that mountain with beautiful views into the valley and over Machu Picchu.
We returned the next day to Ollantaytambo from where we briefly stopped at the big circular ruins of Moray before continuing home to Cusco.
A note on the Incas: the best way to think of them is as of a royal family. Inca means "king" and they were therefore the royal house. They subdued many different cultural groups who became their servants. They were wiped out by the invasion of the Spanish bringing new diseases and using horses in battles - something that frightened the local people as they had never seen horses before. The last Inca was killed in 1572.
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