Machu Picchu

A group of seven of us set of for a weekend to see Machu Picchu. I wasn't totally sure what to expect. We booked a trip with a tour company not from our school and we did it for about half the price. The "typical" trip to Machu Picchu (unless you hike it) is to arrive by train from Cuzco and then take a bus to the top and it costs about 200 dollars per person to do it this way. However, our trip organizers figured out a way to it cheaper that was quite and adventure. It involved some of the most breathtaking and tense moments of my life. 

We started out by bus from the plaza in Cuzco and took a 6-7 hour ride up into the mountains. When we booked the trip, we were told we would be taking "Mercedes Benz" (said in the most wonderful Spanish accent) up the roads. However, we were picked up in a rickety old van with 12 of us total. It was hot, sweaty, bumpy...and totally great! 

 The whole thing was admittedly "shady" but we were all kind of expecting that. Aside from the van, the ride was incredible. Winding roads, deep valleys, water streams down the mountainside (and over the roads) it was beautiful! The roads were narrow with steep cliffs. Each time we would go around a curve the driver would honk, letting the other cars know we were coming around the corner. Otherwise, cars often would drive in the center of the road. 

In the car we visited with some people from Israel who had been traveling for 6 months, another girl from Portugal who had been traveling for 4 months and another girl who was returning to England after being in South America for one year. Each of them stated that they just "didn't have enough time" in South America :) There is just tons to see. 

After the bus ride, we hiked for three hours through the sub-tropical jungle on the way to Aguas Calientes  (the town closest to Machu Picchu). We saw beautiful flowers, birds and banana trees growing along the trail. The entire hike was along the beautiful Urubamba River with the towering Andes on either side of us. I don't think I have ever seen something so beautiful!  Well, it wasn't exactly a "trail" we followed behind the train tracks :) Luckily, trains would give plenty of warning that they were coming because a lot of people choose to go the "economical" route. 

After the hike, we got another one of our "all inclusive" meals that that don't include drinks and arrived after about an hour of waiting. Then, we were given a piece of bread, juice and some cookies for breakfast. We stayed overnight in a hostel in aguas calientes and started the hike up to Machu Picchu at 4am. Hiking to the top is about 1200 steps and takes 1 hour (if you don't stop) After the first 5 minutes I was regretting the decision... and I only had 55 minutes left to go! Needless to say, I don't think I have ever sweated that much in my life. After we made it to the top, all we could do was sit and stare at each other; it took too much energy to talk. 

The hike was worth it in the end, and the feeling of accomplishment was great. After our drive and several hikes, I couldn't imagine that Machu Picchu would impress me much...but it definitely lived up to one of the Seven Wonders of the World standard. Wow. That is pretty much all I can say. 

What an amazingly exhausting day! 

Praise God, we arrived in the Sacred Valley where several of us will be staying for the week. Looking forward to a quiet, relaxing week in the valley of the Andean mountains. 

Check for pictures on facebook :) I think Lindz will post them