27 May 2023 Machu Pichu

By

 An early start of the day for the train ride to Machu Pichu and the on the bus to the entrance of the Inca ruins. Due to the strikes and rioters earlier in the year tourist bookings are down a lot and the people are suffering as a result of the lesser spending.




Then of in the bus to the ruins.    Heading for the entrance footpath to the settlement. 


You need to climb over a little hill to view the village. Just under 500 lived her at its peak. They grew crop and held animals. 


Standing on the hill , it was covered with clouds, which gradually lifted. We are heading on,  to eventually walk among the ruins.



 

The settlement was abandoned when the Spanish invaded South America and the Inca’ fought the Spanish. Machu Pichu was never occupied again . Only some fields were used by local farmers. It was rediscovered in 1911 by a Hiram Bingham explorer who was actually looking for a different settlement but was directed by a farmer and a local boy to this place. It was totally overgrown and infested with snakes.







Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

23-24 May 2023. Crossing the Andes ranges from Nasca Chalhuanca- Cusco.

By
Image
 The Andes have a series of ranges which have to be crossed. Very long ascends and decends  of each about 20 - 30 km hairpin roads.  The scenery starts with a barren range. Very little water falls here. But that  changes and we soon see some vegetation. The valleys become green even at higher altitude people survive in Small villages. Growing crops and keeping Lama’s for wool and meat. A young mother carrying her child the traditional way. Women sitting on the side of the road spinning Lama wool. Socialising in the meantime. Times have stood still here for a long time. But they seem happy. We stop at some to meet some local woman and we buy a few small souvenir items.
Read more

25 May 2023 , Cusco

By
Image
 Cusco is the ancient capital of the Inca’s. The Inca empire did not last very long. But in only about 150 years they build some impressive structures. In Cusco the Inca’s  build large palaces which after the conquest by the Spanish were used as the foundations for their palaces. The centre of Cusco is ofcourse the The Plaza de Armas. The central square. Very much a typical Spanish town. We did a walking tour around the centre and later visited the Cathedral and the Inca museum. Not much of the famous gold and silver artefacts are left. as the Spanish took most of it. Cusco is an impressive place. The centre of the Inca empire and the starting point of the Incan trail to Machu Pichu .     
Read more

26 May 2023. Cusco - Ollantaytambo

By
Image
 Our starting point for Machu Pichu will be Ollantaytambo . Which is a distance of 80km fro Cusco. This is on the Inca trail. Along here we visit a salt mine. In the salt pans the highly mineralised water evaporates and the salt is left to be scraped and scooped out in bags. It is not a very large area but important for the provision of essential salt to the region From here it is a short ride to Ollantaytambo to our hotel.
Read more