This was an early morning! We were up at 3:45 am for our BIG DAY - MACHU PICCHU! After a quick breakfast at the hotel, we boarded the buses for the train station. The 1 1/2 hour bus ride was filled with absolute beauty (or so my mom says....I slept for most of it) as well as a lot of great cultural sites. The best was navigating the small streets that could only accommodate one way traffic! It made for some fun and tight situations. I'm surprised we survived the trip without even a scratch on the bus.
We arrived at the train station a little late but the train had waited for us. The train was an old classic with tables to sit around inside. They served us a meal like you would get on an airplane. After an 1 1/2 hour train ride, we boarded another bus to climb the mountain to Machu Picchu. The bus ride was worth the trip and resembled a ride at Disneyland. The drama of two buses meeting head on was fascinating. The bus drivers deserve special mention in navigating the switch backs with relative ease.
As soon as we got off the bus, we new we were at a very special place that deserves to be one of the 7 Wonders of the World. It is an archaeological wonder with incredible views from the many "photo" spots. After a 2 hour tour, I with 4 others in our group, climbed to the top of Wayna Picchu. The journey to the top was literally an uphill battle. You kept climbing steps and just when you think you've reached the top, you'd find more steps. It was incredible and definitely with the climb. I was amazed that at the top there was a house! Who decided to build a house at the top of this mountain and how did they build it! Better yet, why did they build it? Still a mystery to me.
While I was hiking, Mom and Dad hiked around the actual site and ended up going to the Inca Bridge, an awesome hike that allows you to see the whole valley below and the river that goes around all of Machu Picchu. Just as they were leaving, I caught up to them and made them hike back to the bridge so I could see it also.
The weather had been beautiful and although the bugs had been biting, it was sadly time to leave. We made the trek back down the mountain and back on the train.
On the train ride back, we were entertained by a man dancing with a sock mask and a fake llama. Very entertaining.
Of course, everyone (ok...not the Utah fans but most everyone) was sad to be missing the BYU vs. OU game. So to compensate for missing it, the whole ride back to Cusco, we got updates via texts. At half time BYU was doing alright. The score was 10-7. OU was winning but BYU was playing surprisingly well. With only minutes left, BYU scored a touchdown making the score 14-13. BYU was miraculously winning! OU tried to go down and score a touchdown. BYU was able to hold them but they did get into field goal range (55 yards). By this time, we'd made it to the hotel and we were listening to it online. OU missed the field goal. BYU was about to hold on to the lead and WIN! It was a miracle and a perfect ending to a perfect day!
We arrived at the train station a little late but the train had waited for us. The train was an old classic with tables to sit around inside. They served us a meal like you would get on an airplane. After an 1 1/2 hour train ride, we boarded another bus to climb the mountain to Machu Picchu. The bus ride was worth the trip and resembled a ride at Disneyland. The drama of two buses meeting head on was fascinating. The bus drivers deserve special mention in navigating the switch backs with relative ease.
As soon as we got off the bus, we new we were at a very special place that deserves to be one of the 7 Wonders of the World. It is an archaeological wonder with incredible views from the many "photo" spots. After a 2 hour tour, I with 4 others in our group, climbed to the top of Wayna Picchu. The journey to the top was literally an uphill battle. You kept climbing steps and just when you think you've reached the top, you'd find more steps. It was incredible and definitely with the climb. I was amazed that at the top there was a house! Who decided to build a house at the top of this mountain and how did they build it! Better yet, why did they build it? Still a mystery to me.
While I was hiking, Mom and Dad hiked around the actual site and ended up going to the Inca Bridge, an awesome hike that allows you to see the whole valley below and the river that goes around all of Machu Picchu. Just as they were leaving, I caught up to them and made them hike back to the bridge so I could see it also.
The weather had been beautiful and although the bugs had been biting, it was sadly time to leave. We made the trek back down the mountain and back on the train.
On the train ride back, we were entertained by a man dancing with a sock mask and a fake llama. Very entertaining.
Of course, everyone (ok...not the Utah fans but most everyone) was sad to be missing the BYU vs. OU game. So to compensate for missing it, the whole ride back to Cusco, we got updates via texts. At half time BYU was doing alright. The score was 10-7. OU was winning but BYU was playing surprisingly well. With only minutes left, BYU scored a touchdown making the score 14-13. BYU was miraculously winning! OU tried to go down and score a touchdown. BYU was able to hold them but they did get into field goal range (55 yards). By this time, we'd made it to the hotel and we were listening to it online. OU missed the field goal. BYU was about to hold on to the lead and WIN! It was a miracle and a perfect ending to a perfect day!
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