MACHU PICCHU!!!!!

INCREDIBLE! After one of the shortest-longest nights of our lives we awake at 4:30 am to catch the first bus to Machu Picchu! Arriving before daylight we feel our way into this magical place. The dull morning light feels calm and pure. A warm spiritual sense washes our thoughts at our fist glimpse of Machu Picchu. We spend the next 2 hours in the morning glow exploring the labyrinth of the planets most amazing architecture, by ourselves.

The massively steep mountain jungle capture the green and abundant terraces, framed and bisected by stacked gray granite rock, into the vibrant feeling of being ALIVE! Then Comes the SUN.

A grand spectacle reveals the mass and the soul of the layout. I would love to see this place bustling with life (other than camera carrying pasties) the energy had to be phenomonal. After a short breakfast break we head directly to Huayna Picchu the mountain that towers in the background. After a steep, stair riddled hike we reach the top of the peak. There is also ruins that hang from the flanks of this sheer peak.

After taking in the surroundings we continue down to the great caverns along the backside of the pueblo. A long and often sketchy descent we arrive to some jungle caverns, the Incans must have been sure footed, strong, stocky, patient and many.

The amount of work and energy it had to of taken to buld what we have seen these past few days...incomprehensible.

After a three hour hike we have returned to the main Ruins. It is nearly noon now and the place is packed with what we knew was inevitable, Tourists by the hundreds. We quickly dart through the pueblo as if we lived there for years to the vista overlook. It is such a shame the bearded Spanish conquered the Incans, the world would be a better place with them still around. They were forward and intelligent thinkers. They also chose pure life, living and working in such great environments.

We get our token pics and weave the flooding tour groups to the exit. We are flat worn out, content and in awe. The Peruvian government has really done well with Machu Picchu, it is clean and well kept. You have to pay for everything here. Even the bathroom¿ they have that kind of power because you are truly at their mercy.

We meander down, stopping at a great museum and relaxing by the urabamba river. Back to Aguas Calientes to catch the train back to Cusco. A long slow slog, with a few catnaps. Whew what a day!

Happy fathers Day! We love you Dad´s.