Too Busy to Write so here are some Photos of Macchu Picchu

This was entertainment on the train back to Ollantaytambo.  There was also a fashion show of wool capes, scarves and sweaters.  Prices on the train were the same as the local store... too bad Dan is so wool allergic.  On the train we had a sandwich and drink in addition to the entertainment.  Since there are lots more photos that will need to be uploaded I will recap the our day before uploading photos from the other travelers.   Up at 4AM, breakfast by 5 and we meet the guide in the lobby of our hotel at 6 AM for the short walk to the bus.  Seems it rained all night and we had perfect weather, sunny and warm without rain for Macchu Picchu.  Most of us were in short sleeves all day.  The line for the bus to the top was only  minutes, it can be as long as an hour wait.  Tickets for entry are timed to control the crowd.  Currently visitors are restricted to 5000 a day and that number is to be cut in half by 2020.  As we enter the site the path is a one way path to monitor and control traffic.  Our guide is terrific allowing time for some of us out of shape people to catch our breath because initially there are many stairs to get to the site all stone and uneven height.  I am glad to have our walking sticks although only using one and that it isn't rainy because the stone would be like glass.

Johnn describes the site and what we are seeing , what the Inca used the site for homes, storage or religious purposes.  We continue through the site the ups and downs.  It is most amazing that all of the Inca walls, ruins, and archeological sites were completed in about 80 - 100 years.  As we know the Inca abandon this site for unknown reasons and it remained intact because it was never located by the Spain when conquering Peru so never demolished or destroyed.   Currently it is still be excavated and hasn't been totally unearthed.

We spend a little over 3 hours in the ruins.  Each tour is limited to 3 hours.  We then have lunch at the hotel that is located within the entrance to the park.  A buffet lunch with lots of choices.  Tim and I even tried the Alpaca in sauce.  We have 2 hours until the train and Dan and I explore the gardens of the hotel. (of course something I read about in my tour books).  It was a small garden filled with orchids, ferns and small water falls and pools.  Really beautiful and relaxing even with the 20 minutes we allotted since everyone else went back to the hotel to collect the bags.

A short walk back through the market and it began to rain for about 20 minutes.  Luckily we were in the market so stayed dry and avoided buying anything so that was a win win.  

Onto the train and we are entertained by local "god from the forest", I will have to check with Blanca for the name of the god.  Great fashion show helps to pass the time.  Don is trying to catch up on the missed sleep from the day before.  We meet the driver and have a 1 and half hour trip back to Cusco.  I am still in awe that the driver can manipulate the roads and traffic.  It is pitch back with very little light.  The road is winding and poorly maintained with speed bumps along the way.  Back to the hotel and recheck in and to the room.  We are all calling it a night.  Now only 2 days behind again!!