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Day 11
5th June 2012
Rise early to take advantage of viewing Machu Picchu in the early morning light. This is the best time to view the 'Lost City of the Incas'. Join our local guide for a detailed interpretation of the site and Inca history without the pressure of other tour groups that arrive at midday. Later in the afternoon of Day 10 we return by train to Ollantaytambo or Poroy and will then be transferred by van to Cusco, arriving in the evening.
Machu Picchu is both the best and the least known of the Inca ruins. It is not mentioned in any of the chronicles of the Spanish conquistadors and archaeologists today can do no more than speculate on its function. The local Quechua farmers in the area knew of Machu Picchu for centuries, but it was not until an 11-year-old boy led the American historian Hiram Bingham (who was in search of Vilcabamba) to the site on July 24, 1911, that the rest of the world became aware of its existence. At that time the site was covered in thick vegetation, and Bingham and his team returned in 1912 and 1915 to clear the growth. Over the years, much work has been done on excavating and studying the site. Despite these efforts, many unanswered questions remain.
I wake at 04:30 to find its raining outside , oh joy perfect weather to see one of the seven wonders of the world. I meet the others in reception at 05:00 and then we walk down to the bus station, at least the rain has just turned to a light drizzle. We que for the bus which is going to take us on the half hour journey up to Machu Picchu. The road snakes up the side of the mountain and when we reach the top there is already a lot of people there waiting in line to get in. Paco hands out out tickets and we are 2 short which are Ellie and Lenz. The rest of us stand in line showing our passport and tickets whilst Paco takes the Ellie and Lenz to sort out their missing tickets. Once we are all in we head off up the hill to catch our first glimpse of the historic and magical Inca city. After walking up god knows how many steps we arrive at the first point at which you can view the city, and see nothing. Due to the rain and the altitude we are at all we can see is cloud. I wander up to the guard hut on the next level and we just wait and hope that before long the cloud will lift and reveal the amazing view of the city. After a while I head off up towards the Inca bridge as it seems no one is going that way and I might find a spot out of the way to have a crafty cigarette. After I head back down to find the rest of the group and we are told that we are to meet our guide at 08:00 by the main entrance. The cloud is lifting a little now and by 7:45 you can see Machu Picchu in its full glory basking in the sun. We go down and meet our guide and he then walks us around the various sections of the city, explaining facts and theory's along the way. Just after 10:00 we are given a few hour of free time to either explore the city on our own, go up to the sun gate or to go to the Inca bridge. I decide to go to the Inca bridge as I think it is probably the one with less steps. We head off together, both Jenny's, Aude, Paco and myself. Once we are up the initial steps the route is fairly flat and easy going. To our right is a shear drop down into the valley below us and there are no rails along this narrow uneven path, apart from a low wall every now and again which is only about a foot high. We eventually reach the end of the path or at least a far as we can go as the rest of the trail is not safe to walk along. We meet a couple of American guys sat on a rock drinking a bottle of red wine. After some photos we start to head back. The girls are in front of us and I offer Paco and the American guys a shot of Pisco which I have in my back pack. After that Paco and I continue on and catch the girls up and I pull out the Pisco again for us all to have a shot and a photo. We arrive back to the main area and sit on a grass terrace looking down over the ancient city surrounded by the high peaks of the mountains. I sit enjoying the midday sun with my iPod on listening to my immortal and soaking up this wonderful view. After I while we move on a wander round some more of the city before catching the bus back to town and meeting at 13:00 for lunch. After lunch we head to the station for our train and then bus back to Cuzco. We arrive at our hotel about 18:30 and then head out for dinner and then all turn in as its been such a long day. Tomorrow is a free day!!!!
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