Peru: Macchu Picchu (Take II) and Waynapicchu

Instead of walking to Macchu Picchu on this morning - we got the bus at 5.30am.



We saw a smoky sunrise over the sungate.








An Inca House at Macchu Picchu rebuilt to it's original form.






I think this was the Temple of the Moon. From what I remember people were sacrificed here.

Our group. In the background you can see a classic example of how the Inca's built around the mountain. There is a big rock inbetween the wall they built.

Macchu Picchu was never finished. Here is evidence of some steps that they never laid anywhere. We had to go down steps like this for about an hour on day 2. Very difficult.

The Incas built little grooves in the rocks to slot them together.

This is the sundial. Apparently you can feel a magnetism if you put your hand over it. Lisbeth is attempting it. There was an incident a few years ago when a television crew went to film here and a helicopter smashed a bit of the sundial off. The man who allowed it was put in jail. The funny thing here is that he was the uncle of our tour guide.

Climbing up Waynapicchu. Some parts were more like a rock climb or adventure course. Our legs were so stiff from the Inca Trail - it was difficult at first. It was all under 3000m though - so I managed fine.

The top off Waynapicchu. Now this felt like and achievement. Look how safe it is!! But seeing Macchu Picchu from up there was amazing. We didn't realise we had gone travelling to keep fit!

This is the angle that Macchu Picchu looks like the sacred Condor with it's wings spread.

Rather scary walking along paths like this and steps that had a rather big drop!! Martin did his anke in on the way down - so it took him about an hour longer than me to get down. You had to side step down most of the steps.

Proof! And the last of the Inca's for us.

Peru - Cusco and Ollantaytambo

We had our first poorly day from food/water - out of action for a day. Didn't do too badly to get this far though!!








The Qorikancha. This building is a classic example of the Spaniards building over Inca Temples - you can still see the grey large stones of the Inca Sun Temple and there are buildings inside. Then on top you have the Spanish building.

Cusco central plaza

Cusco cathedral. Inside there are representations of several different religions in seperate sections. There is also a Jesus statue with dark skin - that is because the Inca's worshiped the colour black.

Saqsaywaman. This was built in line with the sunrise and sunset. All of the Inca's buildings were slanted slightly inwards - the theory is that this was to make the buildings earthquake proof.

Cusco.

Tambomachay - this site was another temple. If I remember rightly the fountains produce sacred water to bathe in. There is also a stone on the right of the top level which was carved in the shape of a seat for the astrologer to sit in.

Health and safety in South America - we came out under the tape after our tour. That was after being in Q'enqo where lots of mummies were found.

The Sacred Valley.

The remains of Inca Terraces at Moray. They rebuild the majority of them to how they would have been. I think it's nice to see the ruins too. They are about to rebuild though - you can see the piles of stones that they will use.

More salt! These were like salt terraces - some of them natural and some of them man-made. They were originally formed as the spring is high in salt and made hundreds of pools where the salt solidified. The darker coloured pools were used for animals and the white pools (after cleaning processes) were used for human consumption.

They just let us all walk along the terraces - some paths were pretty narrow. It was fun though.

It was a good day all in all - lots of little, steep hikes at 4,500m (ish) to practise for the Inca Trail.

This is at a project that GAP (the tour we were on) invest in. The wool is all from Alpacas and they dye it all with the natural ingredients below. The colours are amazing.

Indigenous Peruvian women spinning the wool ready to dye.

Classical Inca agricultural terraces at Pisaq. More hiking of course. Those Incas must have been very fit!

The building with the black centre was the Temple of the Sun.

Martin and I at the top of the Pisaq ruins.

Martin at the top of another Inca site in the Sacred Valley called Ollantaytambo. The steps were more training for the Inca Trail the next day. This stone was about 70 tonnes - how the hell did they get it to the top? This was the site where the Inca's won the Spanish (for the only time) - they threw rocks down from the top. There is a theory that the Inca's were giants, and with the size of their steps I reckon they probably were.

Ollantaytambo from a distance. They built around the shape of the mountains as you can see.

Peru - Arequipa, Colca Canyon

Our tour group on Jose's birthday in a traditional Peruvian restaurant.



Vegetarians look away now......




Sorry guys - this a traditional Peruvian specialty - guinea pig. We tried it... bit like chicken wings - but I couldn't disassociate the pet from my mind and gave up quickly. The ant's head in the jungle was nicer!!





Vicunas.

Sheep, Alpacas and Llamas - grazing together. We were nearly at 5,000 metres here.

This alpaca just came in and out as it pleased - ha ha!

The hot springs near the Colca Canyon - they were gorgeous. Drinking pisco sour and looking at the stars - mmmmm.....

Then the luxury stopped and they made us get up at 4.30 am to go in search of condors at the Colca Canyon. As you can see - Martin was well up for it!

We finally saw a condor - this is my best picture. I love it!

The colca canyon - not what I was expecting at all, but still pretty spectacular.

Martin wasn't so impressed by the views however!

The National Peruvian flower.

All the members of the group that went for the short hike next to the Colca Canyon.

A night out with the tour guides. It was very funny. I was ill for a whole 5 days after it however - think it was more than just the Moquitos!!

The cathedral at Arequipa.

Peru - Nazca and Lima

These are in fact massive sand dunes in Nazca.



Aqeducts that are still used.




The spiral system of the aqeduct with pure water just below where Martin is standing.

The Nazca lines - very difficult to get a photo. In this one you can see a condor if you look very carefully.

We survived the plane journey and none of us were sick (even with my dodgy tummy). Bonus!

The traditional Pachamanka way of cooking. They put the meat (chicken, pork, beef), sweet potatoes and potatoes and vegetables under the ground and cook it for hours. It was gorgous. They then serve it with a drink made from purple corn and salad (that you can't eat because of the water).

Martin's 26th birthday. We went dune buggying and sand boarding. It was a fun day.

In the middle of the desert there was a gorgeous oasis with a lagoon.

A traditional Peruvian cake for Martin's birthday - I had to put normal candles on it as I couldn't find proper birthday ones. We also had pisco and sprite in plastic beakers on the bus.

The birthday boy! This was one of the only hot days we had during our time in South America and it was so nice. This place was another oasis and they had a restaurant and pool - it was all surrounded by sand dunes.

Barbara, Jose and Sephia drinking pisco. Martin later threw Jose in the pool in his shirt as Barbara and Jose celebrated Martin's birthday by putting 4 eggs on his head!

The pisco factory.

Our tasting session.

The drinks that we tried at the Pisco factory. Pisco sour is Peru's cocktail and very nice it is too.

Lima coast from a posh restaurant. Again we did well with the weather. I think I was also made ill by the Ceviche (raw fish) I tried. Ah well....