Machu Picchu, Peru

I'm one of those people who live to eat.  As soon as I finish one meal, I am thinking about what I will get to eat for my next.  On our trip to Peru, I was afforded the opportunity to try some new dishes.  All were delicious.

This one is Causa Rellena con Pollo.  It is a yellow potato with chicken salad.

This purple corn is used to make a drink called Chincha Morada.  It is made by boiling the corn with pineapple, cinnamon, clove and sugar.  You can see the finished drink in the picture below.

This dish is called Lomo Saltado.  It is a traditional Peruvian dish made with sliced beef, hot chilies and french fries. 

Inka Cola is Peru's national drink.  It is make from the extract of lemon verbena and tastes like liquid bubble gum.

Here is the local bread that people buy to take with them when they travel.  It is very sweet like a Hawaiian roll.

The highlight of our trip to Peru was taking a train to Machu Picchu.  This trip was a surprise belated anniversary gift.  Dave made all the arrangements and it was so fabulous.

We took the first train out in the morning.  We were treated to a typical Peruvian breakfast on our way there.

Once at the base of the moutain, we bought a bus ticket up to the ruins site.  We were able get a deal on a private guide to take us around.  This place is amazing!  It was just as spectacular as I imagined it would be.  The government restricts the amount of tourist to 5000 a day.  There were about 3500 on the day were were there.  It seemed a little crowded at frist, but the numbers went down as the afternoon wore on.

Machu Picchu is located on a mountain ridge at about 8000 ft. above sea level above the Urubamba Valley.

Most archaeologists believe it was a retreat for the Inca king.

Built in the 1400's, it was abandoned during the Spanish invasion.  The Spanish never found Machu Picchu which left it nearly intact unlike most of the other Inca sites which were pilaged by the Spanish.

In 1911, Hyrum Bingham discovered Machu Picchu with the help of a local 12 year old boy.  He was actually looking for the lost city of Vilcabamba and dies thinking that this is what he had found.

This is the temple of the sun.  At the summer and winter solstice, the sunrise shines through the window casting a perfectly straight line across the altar.

The sundial at the Intihuatana stone, called the "Hitching Post of the Sun." At the spring and autumn equinoxes, the sun shines overhead and casts no shadow, another of the wonders of Machu Picchu.

Rocks were carved to allow for the thatched roofs to be securely attached.

A small llama family was roaming the ruins.  I am sure there were set there for the tourists, but it was a nice touch.

The uppermost fountain,  is one of the most beautifully constructed fountains.  This fountain, with its fine stone work and providing first access to the water-- before it has been used by anyone else-- is believed to have served the residence of the Emperor Pachacuti himself.

Our tour guide was kind to take many pictures of the two of us together, which can be difficult when traveling as a couple.

 

We had such a beautiful day.  The weather was perfect.  The company was the best.  It couldn't have been better.

It amazes me that I can say that I have been to Machu Picchu.  Peru is such a beautiful country.  Thanks Dave for bringing me here.

Machu Picchu June 30, 2012

This is the original view of Machu Picchu in 1911 before modern reconstruction work began.