At 0610 hrs we took the train from Ollantaytambo to the Machu Picchu train station. Before being able to get on the train each of us had or passport and ticket checked, the ticket having our passport number on it. Each person had a seat allocation and during the 1 hour and 20 minute journey we were served biscuits and either a hot or cold drink, aircraft style. At Machu Picchu we then had our bus ticket and passport checked again and not being allowed on the bus unless an entry ticket with our name and passport number was available for inspection. After a 30 minute bus ride I was finally at Machu Picchu, but not allowed in until the ticket and passport was again inspected. The normal visitor numbers are 2.500 per day increasing to 7.000 per day at certain times of the year. How many were here this day I do not know but it did not seem to be too many to me. The trains run every 20 minutes.
For three hours we went as a group with our guide and then I spent a further four hours wandering around by myself. It’s a fantastic place just to think that everything was built on top of a high mountain, 2,430 metres (7,970 ft) altitude during years 1438 to 1472. The Incas built the estate around 1450 but abandoned it a century later at the time of the Spanish Conquest. Although known locally, it was not known to the Spanish during the colonial period and remained unknown to the outside world until American historian Hiram Bingham brought it to international attention in 1911.
For three hours we went as a group with our guide and then I spent a further four hours wandering around by myself. It’s a fantastic place just to think that everything was built on top of a high mountain, 2,430 metres (7,970 ft) altitude during years 1438 to 1472. The Incas built the estate around 1450 but abandoned it a century later at the time of the Spanish Conquest. Although known locally, it was not known to the Spanish during the colonial period and remained unknown to the outside world until American historian Hiram Bingham brought it to international attention in 1911.
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| Getting on the train to go to Machu Picchu |
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| Running through the town |
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| Machu Picchu town |
Views of Machu Picchu
Me overlooking Machu Picchu
We returned to Machu Picchu station for the journey back to Ollantaytambo then went by bus back to Cusco, arriving there just before midnight. here we stayed for other day.
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| Terraces |
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| A throne cut out of the rock |
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| The guard house |
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| Beautiful stonework |
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| Beautiful stonework |
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| Falling down due to subsidence |
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| A beautiful curved stone steps |
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| Steps to the top |
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| The path to the Sun Gate |
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| The path to the Sun Gate |
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| The path to the Sun Gate |
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| A view from the Sun Gate path |
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| A view from the Sun Gate path |
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| Me at the Sun Gate |
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| The Observatory. When the sun shines through the Sun Gate on certain days it shines through the window and onto the stones that have water in them. The water acts as a mirror and when the priest sees the reflection of the sun in the water then it confirms one of the solstices depending which side shows the reflection in the water. |
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| Looking down from the Sun Gate |
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| The road up to Machu Picchu |
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| Buildings on the opposite peak |
Me overlooking Machu Picchu
We returned to Machu Picchu station for the journey back to Ollantaytambo then went by bus back to Cusco, arriving there just before midnight. here we stayed for other day.
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