Sunrise at Machu Picchu

                                        Fantastic Sunrise

     Making it into the center of Machu Picchu after four grueling days on the Inca trail provided one of the most awesome experiences of all my travels. As the sun burned off the early morning mist the scene became very mystical and absolutely spectacular!

    I sent my son off in the first wave of hikers as I wanted him to be sure to make it in time for the sunrise. I tagged along with our rear guide---we had become good friends over the past four days. If I made sunrise it would be truly great, but if not it was better to safely make it than to not after any kind of mishap. With the exception of one large high rocky hill where we climbed up and over on all fours, this last day was the easiest day of the trek.

     After entering the sun gate I had time to walk the mile down into the site. The mist was light so I easily followed the narrow path. The trek over the Inca road had been a challenge for  his 70 year old and I was most grateful to have made it, albeit last into the campsite each day. My son and I were the only Americans in our international group of twelve who were all in their mid-twenties!

     This trek was the most physically challenging thing I had ever done. I couldn’t believe it when I learned the guides and porters generally quit about age 40 as day after day  they abuse their hips and knees. Now I finally understood why the prep trek guide kept looking at me during the briefing and repeating, “We all will make it to the end.”

     The ruins are large and the site is divided into two  separate areas by a series of plazas. We spent hours walking around the site and learning about it and the Inca culture. It was once a major town and the largest city in the rain forest. It is estimated 1200-1500 people lived there.

    It was an amazing end to the end of an interesting week immerged in the Inca culture. Eventually my son and I caught the old school bus for the dusty ride down over a seven-kilometer switchback dirt road to the village of Aguas Calientes. At the designated sidewalk café we met up with others for a late lunch while local sunshine boys cleaned all the trail dust of our boots. A cool Inca Cola, a yellow carbonated drink tasting much like a crème soda, tasted so good after four  days of drinking large quantities water and coca tea.

    On the train ride back to Cusco from Ollantaytambo I dreamed of a long hot shower that awaited our arrival at the hotel----and the next day maybe a good massage.

     This was an experience, that after the fact, I’m glad I did, but I wish I’d been half my  age.

Smart people take the train to Aguas Calientes and then the old school bus up to the ruins .

I’m not sure what I’ve taught my granddaughters on our many family travels, but one of the girls has a group of four who next  summer are planning to  do the same trek. Now there is a new trek available over better paths and at only 4000’-elevation, but she is determined to follow in my footsteps. At 26 it should be a lot easier for her and a fabulous experience.