Wow!!!! It was just like the photos, only better .................................. rewind to the start of the day.
Machu Picchu, often referred to as The Lost City of the Incas, was built during the 15th century as a royal estate housing about 750 people. It was occupied for around 80 years and then abandoned around the time of the Spanish Conquistadores (some believe that smallpox introduced by travellers before the arrival of the Spanish may have been the cause). It was rediscovered in the early 20th century by American Hiram Bingham III
We left the hotel at 6am and caught a quaint old train which took 1 1/2 hours along a single track to reach the town of Aguas Calientes (in the process of being renamed Pueblo Machu Picchu).
It´s quite a few 100ft lower than the Sacred Valley so altitude was less of a problem. We spent the morning with our local guide Janet (not Derek the tour manager who we've decided to rename "Dad" because he fusses over us all and makes sure everything is perfect). She was very knowledgeable and, like most of the people from this region, almost square. Peruvians are generally a very short race but those living at altitude have adapted over many years by developing extremely large lungs and consequently large upper bodies. She also hated the sun and wore long sleeves, hat, glasses and white lacy gloves at all times.
Looking upwards to the Sun Gate.
The weather was superb all morning but after lunch it clouded over and the rains came. We´d already planned to walk to the Sun Gate and on the basis we were only here once, we donned our plastic ponchos (£1 Poundland many moons ago) and off we went.
Stuart asked if he could come with us as Christine had recently had a replacement hip and didn't feel she could manage the climb.
It was a tough 1 hour 15 mins climb but we made it and then walked a bit of the famous 25 mile Inca Trail which ends at Intipunku (Sun Gate).
The weather was awful and we couldn´t see a thing but never mind.
Weren't we lucky this morning - what a difference a few hours can make.
