These little peddlers told Wendy and I we were like babies and then helped us to correctly put on the hats we had just bought.
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The Incas built the walls at a slight angle which apparently made them stronger. A Spanish church was built on top of these walls but crumbled in a quake in 1915, while the Inca temple beneath stood firm.
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This painting had significance regarding the position of Inca sites located along geographical lines, but I just liked the colors.
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Five of the MP6 at our first of many impressive meals (food in Cusco is awesome and cheap). Teri was sick this day, but met us later.
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The MP6 (Machu Picchu 6 - our code name) is finally together! Kasey, Wendy, me, Kady, Nicole, and Teri, who had been sick all day and just happened to see us while wandering the streets.
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At the Inca museum, we got to watch rug weaving in action. A very impressive shuffle system. These ladies got talent.
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It appears we are driving down a train track, and the upset conductor is shouting and frantically waving his red flag at us. Haha.
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Our superb guide Wilfredo crushed a white parasitic beetle on his hand to reveal a deep purple the locals have used for centuries as a dye.
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An ancient Inca village with terraces located strategically at the juncture of two rivers.
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Our awesome assistant guide Amadeo holds a letter given me by a sister in Spokane to be delivered via Nicole to a sister in Costa Rica. While the letter made an astounding journey, I forgot to give it to Nicole at the end.
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One of the small towns along the trail. The locals do a bit of farming and take care of the trail.
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Had I understood what was going on and taken the picture correctly, it would have looked like Kasey was jumping down a waterfall. Thankfully, Kady got it right.
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Having "second breakfast" in a freezing windy valley prior to ascending Dead Woman's Pass. It's absolutely amazing what the porters prepared for us at each stage. More on that later ...
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The letter made it to the top of Dead Woman's Pass, elevation just under 14,000 feet.
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Our Peruvian team of porters breaking camp. It took 19 porters to carry the stuff for our group of 14. They served us tea at our tents in the morning, packed up camp and left after we did, passed us on the trail carrying large loads, getting there hours before us, and had tents set up and a meal waiting for us when we arrived. The gourmet chef prepared amazing meals, including baking us a cake. I kinda felt guilty about the ridiculous lavishness of the treatment, but as our guide pointed out, we tourists give these guys much needed work. Still feels disgusting.
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The Incas reportedly brought their mummified family out and placed them in these niches on special occasions. Teri, Kady, and Nicole demonstrate quite well.
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A porter carrying our sick brother Kasey. Two porters and our assistant guide Amedeo took turns and carried him all the way to the town near Machu Picchu (I'm guessing about 8 miles from here) where he was seen by a doctor. He recovered well and was able to join us at Machu Picchu the next day.
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I really hate the hat and bandana, but they served a valuable purpose, especially for a whitey like me.
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Wilfredo explains the religious significance of the Inca version of the southern cross. Trinities and dualities abound.
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Stairs along the "Gringo Killer" portion of the trail. My knee was toast by the end of this stretch and Wilfredo helped me out by carrying my pack (in addition to his own).
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The ladies of MP6, looking awesome as usual, at the Sun Gate. Or "Fog Gate," as our guide called it.
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Our entire group (Kasey just got there in time for this pic) finally at Machu Picchu. You're supposed to see the classic view behind us, but it was too cloudy.
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The urinal in the tiny bathroom next to the king's tiny bedroom. At least royalty didn't go overboard on accommodations.
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There was something interesting he was explaining about this ... but I can't remember.
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Victory! It took a lot of work to get here, you know, with 19 porters carrying everything for us.
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This stone supposedly grants power to those who touch it. Of course, visitors are not allowed to touch it.
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How awesome are we? We had enough people that we could have had another level, but too many chickened out.
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Nicole yet again falling sucker to a stray dog. The dogs were almost all friendly and well cared for.
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Back at Machu Picchu the following day, as the sun was just poking above the mountains. This time it was clear from the start.
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Machu Picchu is actually the name of the mountain in the background, which the site is built on.
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The more iconic monolith everyone sees in pictures is Wayna Picchu (also Huyana Picchu), and we climbed it. Only 400 people are allowed to hike on it each day, and it's first come first serve, so we had to get up at 4am to make it there in time to get our tickets stamped.
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Supposedly, the ruins are built in the shape of a condor, but you have to view it upside down. Do you see it?
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How about with some more contrast? No? Well, the head is supposedly in the lower left, the tail in the lower right, and the wings crossed and raised overhead. It's a bit of a stretch. I'm guessing it's just coincidence.
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Here you can see the switchback road that leads from the ruins down to Aguas Calientes at the bottom of the valley.
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There were a lot of people on top of Wayna Picchu. I hear it was even more crowded when the girls went later. (I had to go on my own because I got stamped for an earlier time bracket through no control of our own)
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Zoom in on a monument cut in the rock to have a similar shape to one of the other natural mountain formations. This one was for females and the larger one for males, but I forget the context.
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Back in Cusco, doing a city tour. Started at Sacsaywhaman, which is at the head of the Cusco Puma (the old city was shaped like a puma).
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Here you can see the zig-zag walls, intended to represent either lightning, or possible the teeth of the puma.
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Although I like the teeth idea better, the location doesn't seem to align properly with what you would expect, so I'm not sure which explanation is more likely.
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Chisto Blanco - White Jesus. The Catholics couldn't help but get their idol in on the action next to the Inca site.
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The locals selling their llama and alpaca wool wares for cheap. I think almost everyone in our group bought something here.
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