Scrolling through some of my images this afternoon, I couldn’t believe that I haven’t blogged about Macchu Picchu. After all, it was the main reason I wanted to visit Peru back in 1991. The entire trip of nearly four weeks was incredible, taking in Lima, 1,000 kilometres of the Pan American highway to the white city of Arequipa. Then over the border to Arica in Chile, across the altiplano to La Paz in Bolivia and finally a few days in the Peruvian Amazon.
Macchu Picchu was always going to be my favourite and it didn’t disappoint. With a serious outbreak of cholera at the time, there weren’t many tourists in Peru and the train that left Cusco before dawn was virtually empty. Rattling through the Sacred Valley of the Incas, it took a little over three hours to reach the final stop at Aguas Calientes. Almost all tourists to the area spend the morning at the 15th-century Incan citadel, before having lunch at the small hotel and returning to Cusco on the afternoon train. We were booked into the hotel for the night and my plans had been made well in advance. Keeping clear of the tour guides, I spent the entire day wandering around the site alone. I could read about the history later, once I was back home. While I was there, I was determined to commit every second to memory.
It was nearly dark by the time I returned to the hotel, which overlooked the site. I knew it would open again at 7.00 the following morning, but that wasn’t part of my plan. I needed to be in there before sunrise and so setting my alarm early, I dressed in a hurry, grabbed my camera gear and made my way to the gate. I had read the guards could be persuaded to let the occasional visitor in early. In my case, a bribe wasn’t needed and a smile was all that was required. Climbing up to the Temple of the Moon, I sat on a rocky outcrop and waited for the rising sun. Later on that day, I climbed Huayna Picchu, the highest peak in the distance.
Sid
24 Jan 2020What a fantastic adventure!
Stunning panorama 😍
Have a great weekend!
Sid
Zooey
25 Jan 2020Thank you Sid. You have a great weekend too! 🙂
Steve Cullum
24 Jan 2020Another lovely blog and good to read. You certainly have travelled far and wide for your art 🙂
Zooey
25 Jan 2020Back then I travelled for the sake of travelling. Only now do I travel for my photography 🙂