Infamous Machu Picchu

There it is! Machu Picchu. And yes, I took this photo. I was playing with the camera settings.

Finally, the one has come and we've finally got to see Machu Picchu.
So here is what went down today:
3.5 hour train ride on the Hiram Bingham.
More classical train ride experience and music (except the live music on this train was great)
25 bus ride up the the mountain to the site
explore one of the seven wonders of the world.. Machu Picchu
Explore in awe and amazement at the "lost city of the Incas"
Afternoon tea at the hotel.

oh, did you know Machu Picchu meant "old mountain?"

The architecture and planning of Machu Picchu is just so amazing and yet mysterious. What do not know too much about them and how the Incas really came to building these amazing structures we see around South America. All we can do is admire the beautiful things they have created and embrace the culture that they had which still lives in many Peruvians until today. I'm quite speechless about Machu Picchu besides from admiring it and trying to wonder where all of it came out. There are so many questions yet to be answered. The one thing we know is that the Spanish did not find it and mother nature was the one who revealed it to the world.

I have come to realize how much Peruvians give thanks to Pachamama (mother earth) which is why so many of the natural sites in Peru are still so well preserved. The natural scenery of Peru is just so beautiful and still so kept well. Perhaps I will be able to return someday to learn more about the environment. I hear that Peru is a really nice place to do environmental studies. Anyways...

It isn't a post without pictures? I tried to take a panoramic picture with my camera and it didn't turn out as great as I thought it did and I'm still trying to figure out how to put it together.

Heres some pictures...there might be less pictures with people in it since it is mostly landscape pictures:1. Mother by the Hiram Bingham. oh. Hiram Bingham is actually the guy who found Machu Picchu and also the name of the train that goes from Cuzco to Machu Picchu.
2. Momma and I overlooking the site!
3. Another picture looking over Machu Picchu.
4. Another part of the site. The terraces are so nice.
5. Artsy picture. Inca window looking onto more Inca stonework!
6. Inca carved steps. It repeats different stages of life. If you look closely on the left, you'll see some names carved into the stone. Apparently, explorers carved their names there to claim that they were there first but it was too late because Hiram already got there long ago. lol
7. The stone looks like the mountain behind.
8. Ending with a group picture. Leaning again the Inca stone wall! lol whats my momma doing? lol

Perhaps more to pictures to come at a later date. I still have more pictures of the trip to put up but the internet in Peru is pretty slow to upload pictures and it takes forever.

Anyways, more Machu Picchu tomorrow and off to the Sacred Valley. The Inca culture just keeps on coming!

toodles,