Machu Picchu!

This was "Day 2" of our Inca Trail Trek. So we arrived at the Sun Gate overlooking MP on Day 1 but couldn't enter. We took a bus down to the town of Aguas Caliente to stay the night. Next AM early we came back up for a tour with Luis and were there a couple of hours or so. Beautiful weather! Of course it goes without saying, very impressive place! I think the thing that is most spectacular isn't really the ruins (although yes they are, but we've seen a lot of very cool Incan ruins) but the location. It is just beyond me how/why anyone would ever build in such a remote and difficult location. Apparently the common folk had to come work here on the agricultural terraces (a few weeks or months/year??) as a way of paying taxes to the empire. They had a school for boys here as well as homes, grain storage and the sun temple.Read more