MACCU PICCU ES EL MEJOR PAIS EN EL MUNDO
Trip Start
Jul 07, 2007
1
4
8
Trip End
Jul 13, 2007
Maccu Piccu, Peru
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Because of the teacher strike in most all of Peru, our trip by train was turning into a nightmare! At several spots local gangs had lined the tracks with giant boulders preventing travelers from entering the mountains in which the Incans once thrived. The driver assured us that the nucances would be short lived, but everyone was growing short of patience after the third delay in approximately half a mile. Finally we got going at a steady speed however while we left civilization behind.
The views on the way up were AMAZING!!! I cannot describe how gorgeous the Andes mountains are... I almost cried! The only shortcoming was that every time I got in position to take a picture, a huge wall appeared right outside the train blocking my view! UGGH! People got quite a laugh out of my trouble while I secretly thought of all their cameras breaking in unison. :)
I had a great conversation with these people sitting across from me who had been all over the world! They even had a picture holding a giant Anaconda (which they found in the Amazon). On the way up I worked on my espanol with Daniel said was improving. :) I reminded him to be patient with me considering it took him nearly 10 years to be completely comfortable with English.
We arrived in Aguas Calientes, the city immediately south of Maccu Piccu. Once here we booked a hostel and headed off to get a ticket for the bus to Maccu Piccu. I thought I would get the teacher discount for the bus, but considering the strike in Peru, being a teacher in was not popular! So it must have been good Karma because we were the LAST ones to catch the 12:30 bus...they literally only had 2 seats remaining.
I was so excited I wanted to pee my pants. I was only 2 miles south of one of the GREATEST places in the world! The views on the way up were glorious! Snow peaked mountains guarding thick forest canopies and serene rivers. Hey, I´m going to publish that sentence! Well, you can let the pictures speak for themselves...
After a 30 minute bus ride we were THERE!! I almost fainted! Maccu Piccu is more glorious than any picture could depict! The Incans literally carved a civilization out of the Andes. While most indigenous groups probably looked at the Andes as inconquearable and uninhabitable, reserved only for the most exotic of animals and plant species, the Incan viewed them as an opportunity to advance! And advance they did! The terraces were perfectly carved! The geometrical proportions within each terrace were perfect! Check this out...the Incans even carved out a rock at the top of the mountain which depicted all cardinal directions! Literally! It contained four points which pointed impecably to the North, South, West and East. We even used a compass to check! And people say the Spanish Conquistadores were more advanced...sheesh!
Daniel and I even rubbed shoulders with the Llamas! As one lied there peacefully in a state of slumber, I decided I would SNUGGLE with it! I got close but the Llama got a bit ancy. You will see the picture. :)
The Incans also had an advanced system of irrigation. They carved miniature canals out of the rocks and let gravity move the water from terrace to terrace. INGENIOUS! And for messages...they carved out miniature caves in the rocks to amplify commands and assignments. What a great system of organization!
The Incans absolutely amaze me! I will never think of the Andes mountains as a Spanish or Peruvian possession...they are Incan in every way! The Incans understood their surroundings like few other did.
We had to say good- bye to Maccu Piccu and the Andes when the last bus left for town "a las cinco." Daniel and I had a much deserved nap on the bus ride down. It was simply TOO MUCH to take in...we were exhausted both physically and emotionally.
In town we had some authentic Incan food and now I sit in front of the computer detailing today´s events. To think, I am only 4 days through my trip and my life has already been changed for the better!
Signing off....in a phrase Daniel taught me...¨QUE BIEN"
WAGS
The pictures you see are of the Andes mountains....
