Machu Picchu

Caught the Hiram Bingham train at Ollantaytambo station to Aguas Calientes.  Hiram Bingham is the English explorer credited with ‘discovering’ Machu Picchu although legend has it that he only passed through as he looked for the lost sacred city of the Incans.  The train ride was fun although slow, and followed the Urubamba River with rushing white water and rapids.  The train was luxurious – served a nice brunch and then we walked to the last car of the train which was open to take pictures. 

We arrived in Aguas Calientes, the tourist town where buses drive visitors up the mountain to Machu Picchu.  This town has also grown and prospered as Machu Picchu has become a popular tourist destination, voted one of the new seven Wonders of the World. 

We met our guide at the entrance to Machu Picchu  and immediately started climbing to the top of the citadel for the iconic view with Wayna Picchu in the background .  Machu Pichhu is at 9000 ft elevation, 2000 feet lower than Cusco, so we had a lot more energy for the climb.  

We walked through an area of poorer quality stone workmanship than we had previously seen – our guide told us this was the corral area where the Incans kept llamas and stored food.  The quality of workmanship improved as we visited the artisan, residential and temple areas of the complex. 

It was interesting to hear how much new information has been uncovered about Machu Picchu.  Archaeologists now believe it was a city of 400 permanent residents, although during festival times, often accommodated over 1200.  It was a sacred city but not one that was self-sustaining.  Unlike other Incan cities, no farming occurred at Machu Picchu so food and other materials had to be provided from elsewhere in the empire.  It was once believed that the Spaniards never found Machu Picchu but many archaeologists now believe that the Spanish warriors did reach the city. In fact, a Spanish sword was found on site.  However, it is now thought that the Incans abandoned Machu Picchu while at war with the Spanish because it was not self-supporting and a drain on the empire.  The Incans are believed to have taken all their gold and left the city for the rainforest.  Only one gold object has been found at Machu Picchu, a bracelet.  A tree was planted to mark the site of this discovery. 

 Another recent find is the Condor Temple.  The face of a condor carved in stone was excavated on the floor of a room that was not believed to be of any importance.  The wings are formed above in rock.  Given the significance of the condor in Incan beliefs, this room was believed to be a funerary area where the condor, like the ferryman on the river Styx, enabled the passage of the dead to the afterlife. 

After a lot of walking and climbing, we stopped for a drink at the Sanctuary Lodge, took the bus back to Aquas Calientas for a little shopping and then boarded the train for the ride back to Rio Sagrado station.  Had a nice dinner on the train but even more fun was the trio playing 60s Motown and British invasion oldies.  The swaying train made the dancing even more fun!  It was a 90 min drive back to our hotel – made for a long, but exciting day! Machu Picchu is indeed a magical place worth visiting multiple times!