Really impressive. The town is tiny but a worthwhile stop before Machu Picchu. The stonework is really welldone and preserved, in some ways even more than Machu Picchu.
We spent the morning exploring the ruins before hopping on PeruRail to Machu Picchu. Another beautiful scenic ride. The train is very small and cute, almost like an amusement park ride. I got to sit at the frot which is next to the conductor and has a frot facing window. That's how small it is.
Arrived in Aguas Calientes, the town ride under Machu Picchu at about 3 pm. MP closes at 5 pm so we rushed up (bus is $14 round trip and takes about 15=20 minutes). The bus drops you off right in front of MP so there is actually no climbing involved other than walking about the site itself. Note that it costs $40 per day to enter (we thought it was for 3 days, but it turned out to be worth it to pay for two days anyway since we caught both the sunrise and the sunset).
MP is indescribable and is even better than in pictures. A placed that lives up to its high hype and more. You could spend a full day here just exploring the place and taking it all in. It's baffling to think how they built this thing up here. The stones are huge and numerous.
Got to catch the sun setting, so it was really beautiful. Another plus was that there were fewer people at this point. I can see how it would be harder to enjoy the majesty of the place with hoards of crowds (noticed lots of school groups coming in the next day). They do strictly enforce the 5 pm kick out, but we were coming back the next day so no worries.
Okay one thing I learned later on which I have never heard of is that the mountain behind MP, pictured here, resembles the profile of an Inca face lying down! It's not the best angle here bit there are postcards showing the face in certain lighting which looks really uncanny!! I don't know why this isn't publicized more haha. Now when I look at these pictures all I can see is the face.
Had a very nice dinner of bacon wrapped alpaca (has something wrapped in bacon ever not been good?) and a marascuya sour. Restaurant was called Tree House and tucked away in an alley but surprisingly modern and well designed. It was recommended by our poorly named but nevertheless awesome hostel, Gringo Bill's. All these nice dinners didn't cost more than your average entree-and-drink-only meal at like a cpk or something. Sigh.
Waking up tomorrow at 415 am to get into Huayna Picchu for The Big Climb. They only let in 400 people per day: 200 at 7 am and 200 at 10 am. The lines For the bus, whch begin to run at 530 am, begin forming by 430am. They let in people at the Machu Picchu gate beginnig at 6 am and start counting from there. Kind of crazy, making it limited of course makes everyone want to go. My friend who did it last month said it's a must-do.
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