The trip to Machu Pichu was one of the main reasons I had come to Peru. Who doesn’t want to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World?! Well the trip to Machu Pichu started early. We had to wake up at five in the morning so that we could get to the airport early, which the drive there is almost an hour. Well Elise (mi novia) and I didn’t even go to sleep that day because we were like “we can just sleep on the plane ride”. Which we barley slept at all.
We got to Cuzco and got on our van to the hotel. Before we got started with our day we got some time to adjust and rest for a little bit. Then we began our day by going to a restaurant to eat some lunch. Here instead of a free pisco sour we got a free glass of chicha morada (it is a traditional non alcoholic drink made from dark corn). After I drank that chicha I started to feel the effects of the high altitude. I thought I wasn’t going to be affected by this but unfortunately I did. The waiter was quite kind because once he saw me lay down on one of the couches he went and offered me some coca tee. Yes coca tee, it helps with high altitude sickness. Soon after a couple cups I was feeling a bit better and also buy the pills because they definitely help.
Then we were off to see some ancient Inca ruins and some giant churches. The churches are in the heart of the city and they are amazingly beautiful. You are not allowed to take pictures so you just have to enjoy it as you walk through them. So for two days we toured many ruins, which were very fascinating. Whenever I saw a new ruin I would always think aliens must have built these. When you see them you too will think the same.
At the end of each ruin we visited there would always be natives selling anything from rock sculptures to blankets and sweaters. They would all just run at you once they saw you coming. At first I would always give a look at what they had which was kind of a bad idea since then they would keep following you until you bought something. These people come to you unlike in the US where there are just stores and its up to you if you go in there and look or buy something. Here its just so much more different because these people depend on selling things day by day to make it through another day. While walking down in the Plaza de Armas a little kid came by alone at around 10 at night selling little lama key chains. Who would let or even make their child walk around selling key chains so late? Its just how different life is down here. Its quite sad for me to think of since my father also did the same thing when he was young. Eventually we ended up buying three key chains from him for 6 soles, just 2 dollars. But not all this trip was sad because the next day we were off to Machu Pichu!
On the last day there we finally got to go to Machu Pichu. To get there we also had to wake up very early. We got up got breakfast and got on the van by 5:15. Then we drove to the train station where we traveled for another two hours. The train ride there was amazing as well because you are next to the river the whole time and go through humongous mountains. Well after we got of the train we walked to another bus that drove us all the way up a mountain to Machu Pichu. We got of the buss and walked up through the entrance. You walk through a little house and then there it is the beautiful and amazing Machu Pichu! Words cannot explain this place; again I thought how the heck did they get all these rocks here? I just wish we could have had another day to explore. Enjoy the pictures!
We got to Cuzco and got on our van to the hotel. Before we got started with our day we got some time to adjust and rest for a little bit. Then we began our day by going to a restaurant to eat some lunch. Here instead of a free pisco sour we got a free glass of chicha morada (it is a traditional non alcoholic drink made from dark corn). After I drank that chicha I started to feel the effects of the high altitude. I thought I wasn’t going to be affected by this but unfortunately I did. The waiter was quite kind because once he saw me lay down on one of the couches he went and offered me some coca tee. Yes coca tee, it helps with high altitude sickness. Soon after a couple cups I was feeling a bit better and also buy the pills because they definitely help.
Then we were off to see some ancient Inca ruins and some giant churches. The churches are in the heart of the city and they are amazingly beautiful. You are not allowed to take pictures so you just have to enjoy it as you walk through them. So for two days we toured many ruins, which were very fascinating. Whenever I saw a new ruin I would always think aliens must have built these. When you see them you too will think the same.
At the end of each ruin we visited there would always be natives selling anything from rock sculptures to blankets and sweaters. They would all just run at you once they saw you coming. At first I would always give a look at what they had which was kind of a bad idea since then they would keep following you until you bought something. These people come to you unlike in the US where there are just stores and its up to you if you go in there and look or buy something. Here its just so much more different because these people depend on selling things day by day to make it through another day. While walking down in the Plaza de Armas a little kid came by alone at around 10 at night selling little lama key chains. Who would let or even make their child walk around selling key chains so late? Its just how different life is down here. Its quite sad for me to think of since my father also did the same thing when he was young. Eventually we ended up buying three key chains from him for 6 soles, just 2 dollars. But not all this trip was sad because the next day we were off to Machu Pichu!
On the last day there we finally got to go to Machu Pichu. To get there we also had to wake up very early. We got up got breakfast and got on the van by 5:15. Then we drove to the train station where we traveled for another two hours. The train ride there was amazing as well because you are next to the river the whole time and go through humongous mountains. Well after we got of the train we walked to another bus that drove us all the way up a mountain to Machu Pichu. We got of the buss and walked up through the entrance. You walk through a little house and then there it is the beautiful and amazing Machu Pichu! Words cannot explain this place; again I thought how the heck did they get all these rocks here? I just wish we could have had another day to explore. Enjoy the pictures!