Machu Picchu

5:00 wake up
5:40 on the bus then train then bus to Machu Picchu!
Amazing Day!

Waiting to board our 6:40 AM train

David Clark, Harvey Scott, Tara, and Elizabeth ready for a 3 1/2 hour train ride to the base of Machu Picchu

I got to sit next to Elizabeth - a wonderful woman from Russia, with a very interesting life story.

Looking out the window of the train.  I was fascinated by the landscape and the people farming their land.

It was also very interesting to go from this brown landscape and climate, to a the tropical Amazon rainforest climate in such a short train ride. 

Pancakes and fruit for breakfast.  I am wearing a sweater I bought at the Mercado Indio in Mira Flores, Lima.  It is made of Alpaca wool from Cusco. I had forgotten to bring a jacket, and it did get cool in Cusco.

It started to rain here , and didn't stop for 7 or 8 hours

Getting off the train

Paul and Paul

We all purchased rain ponchos.  It rained for hours, so they were a life saver.

This is where we jumped on the bus that took us up a steep switchback dirt road to the base of Machu Picchu.

The clouds restricted our view the first half of the day, but it cleared up later in the afternoon.

The movement of the clouds created a magical atmosphere on top.

Our tour guide, Leo, is a university professor in Cusco.  He was as good as they come!

Alpaca wandered through the ruins.

Leo!

Baldemero, Harvey, David, and Tara listen to Leo

Notice the difference of the stone work in this house.  The stones have been sanded and perfectly fit without mortar. This is a home of someone very important.  Leo is probably standing where the king's (Inca) bed was.

If you look close, you can see the road switching back and forth up the mountain.

 

The clouds came and went throughout the day, but at the end of the day we had blue a beautiful blue sky! 

After our tour, I changed clothes and ran to this location on the Inca Trail.  It is called, Puerta Del Sol ("The Sun Gate").  It was a steep one mile climb at high altitude.  The view was fantastic and worth every breath.

The sun finally hit this amazing ancient city, high in the Andes. 

Alpaca 

Got stuck behind this bus that slid off the narrow road.

Entertainment on the train ride home.