Machu Picchu

From Cuzco, we took a taxi-van to a town called Ollantaytambo with an INSANE driver who saw no need to slow down on winding roads (with a cliff on one side) or for speed bumps. Sitting in the back seat for over an hour wasn't very fun, but at least the scenery was nice. From Ollantaytambo, we took a train to Aguas Calientes, the last town before Machu Picchu. Aguas Calientes was a tiny little town surrounded by mountains, but super touristy since it only exists for travelers to have somewhere to stay before and after going up the mountain. As soon as we got off the train, we were swarmed by people offering hostel deals and tours. We followed one woman to her hostel ($10/night!!!) and she helped us get everything sorted out for Machu Picchu. That night, finding a place to eat was just as overwhelming as finding a hostel. You walk through any square or down any street and have about 6 menus shoved in your face at a time, with each host/hostess trying to bribe you with deals. Everyone had SOMETHING that was "free, just for you." We finally found a place that served Mexican food - such a letdown, NOT the same at all - and got to bed early.

View from our hostel in Aguas Calientes.

We got up before 4 A.M. the next morning, put on our ponchos and rushed to the bus area to try to catch one of the first buses up to Machu Picchu, but the line was already suuuper long when we got there. The bus took us through the jungle up to the entrance of the park, and we were lucky enough to be 4 of the first 400 people, which meant we got tickets to climb Huayna Picchu, a really tall mountain next to Machu Picchu that looks down on all the ruins. The climb up Huayna Picchu was brutal...basically a straight hour of climbing up steep stone stairs, but so worth it. The view from the top was incredible. When we first got up there, it was really misty and we couldn't even see Machu Picchu through the fog, but it was so crazy being up there and looking down on all the clouds. After about half an hour, the fog started to lift and we could see all the ruins below us, and it was completely breathtaking. Definitely one of the greatest places I've ever seen!!! Maybe the greatest...

From the entrance...first view of Machu Picchu.

FIRST ALPACA SIGHTING!!!

On the way up.

Look what I found! Giant...rabbit/gopher?

Just some of the steps up Huayna Picchu.

In the clouds :)

Our view when we first got to the top. 

And when the clouds parted!

On the way back down...tired and sweaty :/ But who's jealous of my fanny pack?!

And then back down to Machu Picchu! We spent the rest of the day exploring the ruins and still didn't have enough time to see all of it. Maybe that has something to do with the fact that we took a nap up there...oh well, that means I gotta go back! The only thing I regret is not bringing bug spray. Our ankles got completely swollen with bites from these tiny mosquito/fly things, who I still haven't forgiven.

I'm gonna let my pictures say the rest, but here are some facts about Machu Picchu before the picture overload:

• It's known as the Lost City of the Incas and is located in the Andes.
• No one knows the true purpose of Machu Picchu...it could've been a spiritual or defensive retreat, an royal court, or all of the above.
• All of the structures are made out of separate stone blocks with no mortar in between. The rocks obviously don't look like they did back then, but they were cut so perfectly that nothing was needed to keep them together, and the buildings and walls are all earthquake-resistant.
• It's one of the New 7 Wonders of the World!!!

EWWWWWWWWW.

Nap time!

BABY!!!

Baby with mama llama.

Incan bridge...probably would pee my pants trying to cross that. And it doesn't look like it goes anywhere?

Cuzco - Where the Emperor Got His New Groove.

Last week, 3 friends and I extended our 4-day Easter weekend into a 10-day trip to Peru, and I already miss it! It was gorgeous, and it was a lot more like what I expected Latin America to be like before I moved down here. Our trip went like this: Santiago--Arica--Tacna--Cuzco--Aguas Calientes/Machu Picchu--Cuzco--Puno/Lake Titicaca--Tacna--Arica--Santiago. Just as long and confusing as it sounds.

The trip from Santiago up to Cuzco consisted of two looooong overnight bus rides and a taxi ride across the border. Bussing all the way there wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. It was actually pretty fun...we watched a TON of movies and didn't have to pay for hostels! Waiting at the bus terminals wasn't so bad either. In Tacna, the two guys working at the bus office closed their doors early to share our pisco and blast Youtube music videos. We almost missed our bus because we didn't know it was at another terminal, but our friends saved the day...they got into a taxi with us and had it park right in front of our bus as it was pulling out of the driveway so that it couldn't leave without us hahaha. SUCCESS! Unfortunately, the bus ride itself wasn't so fun. We gained altitude wayyy too fast (Cuzco is over 11,100 ft. above sea level) and I woke up with my head throbbing, barely able to breathe, and feeling like I was burning from the inside out. When I tried to get up to go to the bathroom I had to lay on the stairs to keep from fainting, and by the time I finally reached it I was so dizzy that I threw up. EW. At least I made it to the toilet...that could've been embarrassing. The next morning we drove through a bunch of tiny villages, and it was crazy to see how most of the people in the rural areas still wear the traditional clothing (at least the women) and herd their livestock down the street right alongside the cars and buses. I've never seen so many donkeys, cows, chickens and pigs in such a short period of time. Maybe at Centennial Farm, but that's different! THESE WERE REAL ONES!

And then it snowed!

After about two days of traveling, we finally made it to Cuzco and fell in love with it right away. SO BEAUTIFUL. It was so European-looking but with so much color. Lots of the women there also dressed in the traditional clothing, but they were also all trying to sell things, so I'm not sure if it was just to make their things look more authentic. Some of them just walked around with animals offering to take pictures with people for money. Of course, being animal-loving gringas, we gave in.

We spent the first day mainly exploring the city:

View from our hostel.

Plaza de Armas.

The famous 12-sided stone...we were expecting something a little different.  It's supposed to be a stone-working Incan masterpice. No clay or mortar in between the stones.

Mmmmmmm who's hungry?????

Wouldn't you like to be the one that got to braid those chin hairs?

Coca leaves at the hostel. You're supposed to chew them or put them in tea for energy and to help with altitude sickness. I accidentally swallowed some. Luckily, no side effects haha.

We thought the rainbow was for gay pride...apparently it's the Incan flag.

Wow, so many tempting choices. I think I'll go with the alpaca tornado.

The next morning, we visited Qorikancha, a Spanish cathedral that used to be an Incan temple to the sun god. They destroyed most of the old temple and looted all the gold (they say the walls and ceilings were covered in it) but retained some of the Incan stonework. So pretty!

Qorikancha!

We also happened to be in Cuzco on the first day of Semana Santa. That night, it seemed like every single person who lived in Cuzco was in the main square. Sooo packed with people. We got to watch one of the processions, where there was a long parade led by a group of priests carrying a huge black Jesus! When they entered the church, people who were roped to the front of a church threw pink flower petals over Jesus and the crowd. It was so cool to see how different Easter and Holy Week are in a country where almost everyone is Catholic, and where religion is such a big part of the culture as a whole. Although I'm still not sure why Jesus was black...I'm guessing it has something to do with incorporating indigenous beliefs but wouldn't they picture him as brown? Mystery!

People starting to gather in the square...hours before the processions started.

Black Jesus!!! About to enter the church.

These people with baskets full of flower petals were tied to the entrance of the church...wonder how many people fell before they thought to tie them up there.

View from our restaurant after all the excitement ended. How pretty is that?!?!

Next up...Machu Picchu!!!