Machu Picchu


An absolutely breathtaking place from start to finish. No matter how many pictures you've seen, no matter how much you've heard about it, you'll gasp when you see it -- it's that kind of a place. 

Machu Picchu was hidden in the jungle until it was discovered in 1911 by Hiram Bingham, an American historian. Now it's a big tourist attraction, with guides who blab on about the Celestine Prophecy and Erich von Danniken. Still, it's one of those things that no one should miss.

The place was crawling with tourists, so I missed a lot of good shots. This is one of the most photogenic spots on earth, and even so, there are still quite a lot.

Click for a larger version The train

On the way. If it looks precarious, it's because it is. It's actually more precarious than it looks, since the photo was taken from the back, which was snaked around. After the train we caught a bus.

Click for a larger version Road through the mountains
Click for a larger version View of Machu Picchu

It's so hilly that you have ready-made aerial views.

Click for a larger version Agricultural terraces, tombs, temples and dwellings.
Click for a larger version Dwellings on the right, sacred plaza in the middle, and main temple on the left.
Click for a larger version Another view.

The people in the photo should give you an idea of the scale.

Click for a larger version From farther away
Click for a larger version Yet another view.
Click for a larger version Detail: center right of previous photo

The stones were  fitted together perfectly without cement. In 700 years, this small shift was the only damage that numerous earthquakes could do.

Click for a larger version The hippie stone

for the non-philosophers among us. The tour guide said that many hippies think this stone emanates cosmic energy. This group hedged their bets.

Click for a larger version Mural

Without the tourists. Another explanation is that it's a portrait of the mountains.

Click for a larger version Mountains

For those of you who prefer to bypass the portrait.

Click for a larger version Terraces, close up

Not a great idea to fall from here.

Click for a larger version Stone structures

Though uncovered now, they had thatched roofs when they were in use.

Click for a larger version Pegs on the side of the roofs

Where the thatch was tied on with strips of llama leather

Click for a larger version The complex of buildings

was fairly extensive

Click for a larger version Gateway

Heavier stones support the lighter ones

Click for a larger version A bit of pre-Gaudi Gaudi
Click for a larger version The center of Machu Picchu

This might have been an amphitheater.

Click for a larger version The possible key to everything

Recently, South African archaeologists located this stone buried in the center of the amphitheater. They think that this stone may be the crux of Machu Picchu.

Click for a larger version The other side of the amphitheater

With ant-like people on the terraces.

Click for a larger version Possible sacrificial altar

or at worst, an under-the-stairs type of place for naughty Inca children. Some naughty grown-up tourists crossed the ropes and had their picture taken.

Click for a larger version Dominic and Esther

My Swiss travel companions throughout the Cuzco trip.

Click for a larger version Aguas Calientes train station

On the way back. The train comes through infrequently, but the station also functions as the town.