Late morning I struck off to climb Huayna Picchu, the tall conical mountain seen outside the north gate. At the summit is the Moon Temple. The climb was very steep and the steps quite irregular, so discretion being the better…
A “Mistical” Morning in Machu Pichu
Arriving 7:00 AM at Machu Pichu we were greeted by the cool morning mist rising out of the valley. A beautiful, almost eerie sight. Machu Picchu was built and occupied by the Incas between 1450 and 1540 when the Spaniards…
The Vistadome Train to Aguas Calientes – Skip that…to Machu Picchu Pueblo. They Renamed the Town!
After lunch in Ollantaytambo we boarded the train to Machu Picchu Pueblo. It was a beautifully scenic ride following the Inca Trail passing snow capped peaks, small rural villages, waterfalls, and Incan temples and terraces. The town of Machu Picchu…
Ollantaytambo – The Spiritual City of the Incas
This morning we toured the Inca site reserved for temples, priests, leaders, and defenders of the Inca empire located above the city of Ollantaytambo. It is an immense site sprawled out on the mountain to the west of the village.…
Oh-Oh. It’s Ollantaytambo!
Late yesterday afternoon we arrived in the city of Ollantaytambo at the other end of the Sacred Valley. The city is very much intact as it was in Incan times with whole blocks of houses preserved and the original streets…
Pisac – Not to Be Confused With Pisaq
When the Spaniards arrived around 1500 and conquered the Incas, they forced them to move to the valley floor. (Dumb move as the Incas knew that the Urubamba River flooded the valley) and established the town of Pisac. It is…
The Sacred Valley and Pisaq
After arriving in Cusco we were met by our guide Sheila and driver Luis and whisked off to the Sacred Inca Valley of Pisaq. The Sacred Valley is rimmed by tall mountains up to 17,000 ft and was a very…
Much Ado About Machu Picchu
After trying twice before, and getting as close as Lima before torrential rains flooded out Machu Picchu and Aguas Calientes closing down the entire area we are attempting our third try. We depart in two days.
A Final Morning Before Flying Home
So as not to waste a few good hours Jesus started the day with a tour of The National Cemetery. Cubans are buried above ground but their bones are then exhumed three years later and placed in a storage bin…
La Habana En La Noche
Our last night was special. Jesus introduced us to Sandra Levinson. We had been hearing about her all week. Sandra runs The Center for Cuban Studies in NYC and helps support Cuban artists and display and sell their pieces throughout…