Peru & Bolivia Machu Picchu

 We assumed that we'd take more later when the fog was gone, but turns out that later the fog was still there and there were a few thousand people in the ruins, so turns out these morning photos are as good as it gets (the fog kind of gives a nice look as well).

After a couple hours of walking about the ruins, we did a hike up Wayna Piccu (the perfect shaped peak / hill / mountain that you see in the background of many Machu Piccu photos). Was a great decision with great views and some pretty fun trails, caves, outcrops, etc.

(to be continued)

Peru & Bolivia Machu Picchu (Day 7)

 But very glad we got up early as the crowds are much much more bearable (many people do day trips from Cusco arriving via train at 10:30 AM - resulting in an onslaught of people; others hike up from Aguas Calientes or as coming in from their treks). 

When we first got to the ruins it was largely fogged in. The fog then cleared a bit and we snapped some general big picture photos (the ones you see on the postcards).

(to be continued)

Peru & Bolivia Aguas Calientes

 It has very nice ruins that over look the town But alas, we had a schedule (due to jungle booking) and took the 8PM train from Olly to Aguas Calientes. This would keep us on track to get to Machu Picchu early early the next morning. Unfortunately the hotel in Aguas had a night club next door, leading a rhythmic night's sleep.

We were up at 5 AM to be on the first buses up to Machu Piccu (Mel decided to get up early but then I was up dragging her out of bed!).

(to be continued)

Peru & Bolivia Ollyantaytambo

   The other highlight was Ollyantaytambo - a "valley town"  that is where the road ends (literally) and is therefore the last place to catch the train to Machu Picchu.

Turned out to be a very nice town and we wished we had spent more time there, maybe even a night (a highlight was some really great mushroom soup!). It has very nice ruins that over look the town But alas, we had a schedule.

(to be continued)

Peru & Bolivia Pisac

 We got off at downtown (i.e., where the roads cross) and rented a taxi for a handful of hours to drive us to the ruins (a two hour hike straight up from the town which would have been great, but didn't have time).

Turned out to be a few ruins on a couple hills with very nice terraces between. The terraces are grass covered now, but when you get away from the ruins, the terraces are still the way farming is done on the slopes (a little different from Manitoba).

(to be continued)

Peru & Bolivia Sacred Valley

 The following day we left for a self-guided tour of the Sacred Valley on route to Aguas Calientes (which is the base town for Machu Picchu). 

We left our big back packs at the Cusco hotel and just took day packs. We took local buses (i.e., no other tourists) and visited ruins along the way. See map of the region below if you want to follow along:

The first bus stop was the ruins at Pisac.

 (to be continued)

Peru & Bolivia Sacsayhuamán

 After breakfast we spent some time talking with a travel agent and decided against a trek, decided on a 4-day Pervuvian jungle trip, and then spent the rest of the day on horse back touring some of the local ruins surrounding Cusco, maybe most notably Sacsayhuamán.

Was a nice change to get on horses, though of course our butts paid the price and reminded us of our decision for several days.

 (to be continued)