Lost City of the Incas: Machu Picchu
Sorry for the massive delay between posts, but we’re traveling in Africa right now and internet connections are not the most reliable.
Now…where were we?
Oh yes, sitting in the fog after hiking for 4 days and 42km. We waited around for an hour or so, hoping that the fog would lift and we would be rewarded with the magical view of Machu Picchu we’d been dreaming about, but alas, it was not to be.
Swallowing our disappointment, we made our way down to the actual site of Machu Picchu and hoped that we’d be able to see something. Anything.
Thankfully, we could. And despite all the rain and fog and the gazillion tourists climbing all over the place like ants, it was fantastic. The scale, size and precision of the city is mind-boggling, and it’s location, deep within the valley of the mountains is simply stunning. Unlike so many other touristy sights (Uros Islands anyone?), this is one famous place that does not disappoint.
Mere pictures cannot do justice to the magnificence of Machu Picchu, especially in the hands of an amateur such as myself, but nonetheless, here are a few:
We spent a total of about 5 hours wondering around the lost city, snapping pictures and exploring the ruins.
As a side note, upon reaching Machu Picchu, one of the things I was MOST excited about, believe it or not, was getting to use an actual flushing toilet, instead of a filthy pit one. I’d assumed that if there were going to be nice public bathrooms anywhere in all of Peru, it would be at their premiere tourist destination, Machu Picchu. Makes sense, right?
But no. This is Peru…and instead of the beauty of spotless, flushing toilets, we were faced with buckets of water and no toilet paper. C’mon Tourism Peru! We don’t need photogenic llamas planted on Inca sites like Machu Picchu and Winay Wayna! We need toilet paper!! 😉
jeseris
I expected to be disappointed by MP but we loved it!..We did find toilets that flushed and had loo-paper (out the front where you pay) although I thought it was totally RIDICULOUS that they couldn’t build the gates with the toilets inside ,instead of needing to leave and then join the crowds to re-enter the sight again!
Shelley
Haha…you are lucky! Maybe because we were there during rainy season they weren’t functioning properly? Cuz I think it was the same ones, outside the Gate? And yeah, having to leave was insane. Ugh.
jeseris
Yep, same ones! Maybe that is why, but that is still pretty ridiculous!
Maritza
It makes sense to have flushing toilets but not in the Andes region of Peru. Sorry it took away the beauty of Machu Picchu for you.
Shelley
No definitely not during the trek, but at the actual site of Machu Picchu, they HAD flushing toilets. They just didn’t work…AND they didn’t have toilet paper! I’ve been on safari in the middle of the Serengeti in Africa and there were always flushing toilets and toilet paper.
I didn’t expect it on the Trail, but I must admit that I was pretty surprised it wasn’t provided at Machu Picchu. It is Peru’s premiere tourist destination, after all…