The Inca city was built thousands of feet above sea level.
 Machu Picchu remains an undisturbed historial landmark. The trip up the trail would take four days. We hired a guide and porters. The men walked ahead of our group to assure service on schedule. We first crossed the Urubamba River on a suspension bridge and started the escalation up the mountain. Llamas graze along the trail. The high altitude made me stop frequently to catch my breath, though the scenery was breathtaking. It was dark when I reached the first campsite, and nighttime was so cold I had to wear many layers of clothes. The next morning the trail began to climb slowly. I walked alone most of the time and sometimes hours would pass before I saw somebody. Slopes became a giant mountain. After a long haul, I reached the top and rested in the cold wind before descending into the valley of Pacamayo. At night, we looked at the stars and told each other about that day's experience. From the valley, the trail climbed steeply up the opposite side of the valley wall. About halfway up is the Inca ruin, Runkuracay, a resting post. On the far side of the pass, the trail descended over a  valley containing a shallow lake, and continued to a second, larger Inca ruin, Sayacmarca. The trail stretched many miles into the mist in a winding pattern. mostly on edges of cliffs.We reached a third Inca ruin, Phuyupatamarca, before descending steeply toward Huinay Huayna, another Inca ruin. Taking delicate steps on feeble feet, I came to a narrow stone stairway up to the sky. Above it was Intipunku, the Gateway to the Sun, were I reunited with my cousin and friends. Through the rectangular doorway, I looked down at the clouds and saw Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas. I spent the rest of the day strolling with admiration through every corner of the ancient city. Workers carry supplies down the Inca trail. After leaving Machu Picchu, I remained in Peru for a another week . The magic of Peru's charm, culture, and adventure was truly worth every moment. |
View from the Machu Picchu trail.
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