Machu Picchu with Laura

I can now happily report I have received my first visitor of the trip. After four months apart since we had seen each other in NY, Laura made it down to Peru for an amazing 10 days. I had been looking forward to our trek along the Incan trail to Machu Picchu forever and it still didn't disappoint. We flew to Cuzco from Lima where we stayed for one night before leaving for the trail. The trial itself is a 4 day 3 night hike through the Peruvian Andes amidst numerous sites of ancient Incan ruins. We shrugged off the rain, embraced the eccentricities of our oh so special SAS hiking group, and just generally enjoyed each other and our mountain rainforest surroundings. We were with a group of 16 other people that was supported by around 20 porters, cooks, and guides who kept us comfortable ensconced in wilderness luxury despite the wet and cold conditions. We were served hot meals on the trail for lunch, had our tents set up each night when we arrived at camp, and were awakened every morning with warm washing water and hot mate de coca tea.

Without further ado, some pictures . . .


This rat looking creature is called a Cuy and is and Incan delicacy. I was kind of grossed out, but Laura just couldn't get enough .

On of the two giant Spanish cathedrals in the main square in Cuzco

Laura and I, dry and all smiles, right before the start of the Inca trail trek

Notice the small size of our backpacks in the previous picture, its because the above army of porters were shlepping all our gear. They all lived near to Machu Picchu and spoke Quechua a language derived from the Incans.

Laura told me she wasn´t going to leave Peru without seeing a llama; unfortunately this herd came cruising across path our second day on the trail

These ruins (much of which are actually rebuilt) are in WinyaWinna the last Incan ruin site before Machu Picchu. The terraces you see were for growing crops while the house like structures provide shelter to Incan pilgrams on there way to Machu Picchu.

Laura is inside one of the Incan ritual baths, you can see these square structures stair step down and water would flow down through all of them so the Incans could cleanse themselves prior to arriving at Machu Picchu. When we were there, however, there was not so much water flowing but there was beer as evidenced by those rouge bottles that made the shot.

This shot from WinyaWinna shows the amazing Incan stonework. Each stone was split, cut, and smoothed to precise specifications to fit exactly with other stones so that all the construction would be motor free. These structures are amazingly strong and have survived numerous earthquakes.

Trying to sneak up on a llama and looking a little sheepish

The classic view of Machu Picchu as you approach along the Incan trail below the Sun Gate. We had about a 10 minute window from the clouds and were lucky enough to snap a few photos.

A shot of the two conquistadors after concurring the trail.