Our day in Machu Picchu.
We get up early as usual, very excited to discover this marvel; we dreamt so much about it and it finally becomes a reality.
To reach the site we take a train from "Ollantaytambo" to "Aguas Calientes".
It leaves at 9:20. We have to show up 30 minutes before. We respect, and when we arrive on the platform, it is invaded by a large crowd.
We sneak between the different groups and witness the departure of a first train.
A few minutes later, another train arrived and immediately the crew displayed the car numbers. We’re supposed to travel in car B... which doesn’t exist on this convoy.
In fact it is not ours but the 7:45 which is 1h30 late!!! We worry about the rest of our day if our train is also late.
In recent years, the Peruvian government has limited the number of admissions to 4,500 people instead of 8,000 previously, to preserve the site and allow visitors to flow freely. To do this, entries are split every hour from 6 am. We have booked the entry to the site for the 12 - 1 pm period and it is not possible to change it.
The platform is empty, most of the passengers get on the train and there are only about ten people left on the platform... Everyone is wondering and waiting for news.
After 10 minutes, another train arrives ... This is our train ...Not much delay.
The railway line follows the "Rio Urubamba" in a gorge surrounded by imposing walls
stone ... A magnificent sight.
We arrive on time.Then to climb to the "Machu Picchu" we take a bus that in 20 minutes transports us by a winding, narrow and steep road.
On the spot we find "Lisbeth" our french speaking Peruvian guide.
Throughout the three hours visiting the site, she tells us the history of the Inca civilization and the site itself. We plunge into this world with delight and wonder.
We are lucky with the weather, threatening storms surround us without bursting and the sun is present with some cloudy spells.
Time passes quickly in her company and we leave her with regret but happy and stunned by the beauty of this citadel.
After the bus ride, we lunch at 4 pm !!! in a pizzeria before taking back our train in which we sleep a good part of the trip.
When we go to bed, we fall asleep with the images of the Machu Picchu... Good night, little ones!
Machu Picchu
Since it was discovered on 24 July 1911 by the American Hiram Bingham, the Machu Picchu citadel has been considered one of the most important archaeological and architectural monuments on the planet.
At an altitude of 2,400 metres, the Machu Picchu stands out for the way in which the Sacred City of the Incas was designed, on a narrow hill with steep cliffs where the Urubamba river flows.
It is a city surrounded by mysteries, erected between the Andes and the Amazon rainforest, and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
Unknown to the Spanish conquistadors, the citadel is considered one of the last refuges of the Incas before they finally gave in to the power of the European invaders.
Falling into oblivion and swallowed by the jungle, the citadel was probably only known by a few indigenous inhabitants of the region and who paid little attention to these piles of stones invaded by tropical vegetation.
According to archaeologists, the Machu Picchu is divided into two sectors well demarcated and separated by a wall about 400 meters long: one for agricultural purposes and the other more urban.
The agricultural sector is characterized by the presence of terraces or platforms used to grow various foods. Very close to this area, there are some small houses that would be the homes of farmers.
In the urban area is the Royal Residence (Residencia Real), which is the most beautiful, largest and best organized construction of the place.The Sacred Square (Plaza Sagrada) is the main ceremonial site of the city. The Pyramid of Intihuatana (Pirámide del Intihuatana) houses the large sundial. The Three Windows Temple (Templo de las Tres Ventanas), is a room composed of three large stone windows. The Condor Temple (Templo del Condor) includes places for ceremonial use.
Ollantaytambo
About 50 kilometers separate us from our next stage.
The village of Ollantaytambo, very picturesque, under the imposing Inca fortress that dominates it, was a city of the Sacred Valley where the Incas took refuge when the Spaniards seized Cuzco.
This small rural village with cobbled streets is one of the vestiges of Inca urbanism. It was originally divided into canchas (blocks) and each cancha had a single entrance leading to a small courtyard.
This where we leave from, tomorrow, to the Machu Picchu
In the meantime we settle in a parking lot near the station for a few days.
Pisac
It’s time to continue our journey.
We leave with regret our friends and head towards the "Sacred Valley".
* the Sacred Valley of the Incas attests to the power of the Inca Empire in the 15th century. The scale of the crops, the very sophisticated irrigation techniques and the buildings that follow one another along the Río Urubamba, testify to the genius of this civilization.
As we leave the campsite we stop a few kilometers away at "Q'enqo" a set of sculptures integrated into the living rock. Site without interest, unfortunately this happens sometimes.
Then we continue to "Pukapukara" .The name of this archaeological site means "red fortress" because of the hot springs flowing there and the color of the earth. Located on a hill overlooking the valley, it would have served as a defensive post for the city of Cusco.
A few meters from there "Tambomachay" or Inca bath is surrounded by green mountains. Aqueducts, canals and waterfalls make up this former spa. The site’s water comes from nearby springs, it feeds the installations sculpted in the rock until ending with a waterfall below.
Our program for the day ends at "Pisac".
The archaeological complex of Pisac is characterized by an innumerable system of terraces and a row of stones surrounding the terraces.
It was built during the reign of Pachacutec in the 15th century, when the Inca empire was expanding. In the 17th century, when the Spanish arrived and invaded the territory of Cusco, they also arrived in Pisac and invaded this precinct.
Perched 400 m above the village, the site stands out for the harmonious beauty of the terraced cultures still used, which form large graceful curves on the slopes of the mountain.
The road leading to the site is, as usual, not maintained and on our arrival places are scarce. The coming rain invites us to have lunch before browsing the site once the storm has passed.
Very good idea which allows us to discover this majestic site under a very beautiful light.
The evening spot being impossible to reach, we settle in a small alley for a quiet night.
ROAD BOOK 148
MAVROS ODYSSEE