Haven’t known much about South America, Peru, or Equador specifically, let alone Incan . Quite honestly, nothing. I came away with basic knowledge of their way of life, leadership and eventual defeat of what now is primarily a lost culture with no known living ancestry.
They were astronomers, architects and agriculturists who built Fortresses and Citadels throughout the Incan Empire. The architecture of Machu Picchu is adapted to the Andean
mountain range precisely aligned to the Temple of the Sun with sunrise on each solstice beginning June 21stthrough December 21st.
Why is this place so amazing? Perhaps the location of the site, the terrain itself seems rather challenging to plant, grow and flourish as a society with little resources and in isolation. With little "farming" space on the terraces, hardly enough to keep 750+ people sustained. Because the Incans did not record their discoveries or progress we know little about them. It's simply educated conclusions.
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| no mortar, simply carefully placed stones |
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| terraces facing the sunrise |
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| looking up at the Temple of the Sun |
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| Steps and steps and steps! |
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| Amazing trek and accomplishment! |
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| Michael made the pinnacle! |
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| fountain where only the ruler's daughter bathed |
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| Store houses to the right and left. God in the middle? |
MACHU PICCHU, the Condor.
Switchbacks from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu at the end of the road is a green topped building. That is Belmond Sanctuary Lodge, the only hotel at Machu Picchu where we stayed the night before in preparation for first crack at the citadel.
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