We should have some nice colourful photos from Arequipa with which to begin our Peru stories but unfortunately our camera decided that it would be better to send them into outer space never again to be seen by human eyes, but more about that later. You´ll have to take our word for it when we tell you that Arequipa was a gorgeous town with big colonial squares and fountains everywhere and that it was great spot for cafe hopping and that it even lured us out for a dance one evening in one of it´s bars/clubs, we´re crazy us!
On then to Cusco, another beautiful town (see our postcards from Cusco post) and the base for many travellers wishing to visit Machu Picchu. We had originally planned on trekking from Cusco to Machu Picchu but as it happened time, and probably our tendency to veer towards the more comfortable option, didn´t really permit so off to the train station with us and " Three of your finest tickets to as close to Machu Picchu as you can take us please!"
The closest the train takes you is to the little town of Aguas Caliantes just beside the site. Aguas Calientes is ugly as hell despite its amazing setting nestled in rocky peaks. A very colourful religious procession celebrating God knows what took our minds off the unattractiveness of the town and kept us entertained. Unfortunately our camera decided that it would be better to send the photos into outer space never again to be seen by human eyes. You´ll have to take our word for it that it was a really flamboyant display. We took to our beds quite early that evening with a view to getting some rest before heading to Machu Picchu to greet the dawn of the following morning. The religious revellers outside had different ideas though as they trumpeted up and down the streets like mad things for hours without a thought of bed time!
Up at four and down the street to join a massive queue that had already formed at the bus stop. An efficient bus service had us rocketing us the steep and windy road in no time. Joined the next big queue at the ticket checkpoint then and slowly waddled our way into the site. Machu Picchu is another one of those sights that almost sends you reeling. It looks just like all the pictures and it was quite surreal standing before it taking photos and feeling like we were on the top of the world, what a setting! We greeted the dawn as planned and it was worth the early rise. The biggest and brightest rays of sun ever known shone first on the tips of the tallest parts and gradually travelled across all the ruins turning everything gold. They didn´t serve any coffee to go with it this time but I think we coped ok.
The next few hours were spent wandering around the maze-like ruins and getting lost while snapping away and fighting over the camera again. Good Lord but these Inca characters knew how to create a bit of drama with their cities.
A few trails lead away from the main ruins and zig zag up and up offering some amazing panoramic views of it all. It took alot of puffing and panting and sweating to get there but we figured we owed it that much since we didn´t bother trekking the whole Inca trail to get there.
Tired and satisfied, we made our way back to town only to discover that unfortunately our camera had decided that it would be better to send half of our pictures into outer space never again to be seen by human eyes...
...so up at four again the next day it was!
Got to the queues slightly earlier on morning two and advanced quite quickly with our camera all charged and a determination the Incas would have been proud of. Into Japanese tourist mode we went snapping like lunatics and re-tracing at high speed our steps from the previous day. The dawn was magic again and we managed to enjoy the Machu Picchu experience all over despite the pressure and haste. The llamas even wandered on to the ruins for us to reward our efforts.
Only hours later we were on our train back to Cusco just on time to get a few happy hour drinks in before boarding our night bus to Bolivia. I don´t think I know anyone who has been to Machu Piccu twice!
5 comments:
I should have gone to South America after all, oh well, maybe next time I hope:)
We love the photos!! M i N
Dawno nie pisałem ale nie znaczy że nie popatruję tutaj czasowo. Wielki respekt za upartość i pomysł z podróżą jeszcze raz !!! Rewelacyjne zdjęcia, Peru i Andy - szok ! Chciałbym tam być choćby raz. Korzystajcie z każdego dnia.
Tak sobie myślę że żyjecie teraz pełną parą i że to coś wspaniałego.
Przemyslav jak wpadniesz na herbatkę czeka Cie mała niespodzianka :)
Ja tez znam tylko Was co to na Machu 2 razy z rzedu sie wspinali. Aparat moze i plata figle ale jak juz zadziala to foty robi przepiekne. Moj kolega fotograf zostal zarazony Waszym blogiem i kiwa glowa z aprobata na te piekne krajobrazy i Wasze usmiechniete lica. Do zobaczenia tuz tuz. Latarnie w dublinie sa nasze :) Ale ja musze popracowac nad forma bo widze ze po Waszych wspinaczkach na czubki swiata bedziecie mieli nielada kondycje :-) buziaki z deszczowego ostatnimi czasy Kerry
What amazing pic. I love these photos!!! And lamas rządzą!!!
Całuski pieguski :-). Jadziadzia :-)
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