MachuPicchu - 1

No surprise:  MachuPicchu was amazing, in its breadth, height, complexity, undertaking, stability, durability, workmanship, mystery, purpose.  And it's bigger than I had expected.

We figure you have seen photos of MP if you are interested -- far better photos than we can produce -- so the money shots aren't here, instead just what we found surprising and interesting.

We arrived before the crowds, and began our ascent of MachuPicchu mountain instead of going to MP proper, while the other early tourists were climbing the more spectacular, more exciting and access-limited Huayna Picchu on the other side.  MP proper sits in the saddle between these two mountains.  We had the morning cool, and morning energy, too.  It was exhilarating (exhausting) sweaty work and we climbed pretty high, with mists coming and lifting on our mountain and on MP and HP.  While we were still an hour short of the pinnacle, we heard from a descender that above was totally socked in, and worth the climb only for the sense of completion, but not to see anything.  We turned around, happily.  Photos from this mountain, a different view than the usual MP:

Actual unrestored Incan steps - felt quite honored to be walking them.

From pretty high up.  The ruins are there, barely visible.

Resting, gasping, sweating.  

As high as we got.  

The mighty river Urubamba below.

On our descent, mists lifting.  We also had a great view of the  zigzagging bus road that carries folks up to MP, below. 

While on this mountain, before going to MP proper, we decided to hike to the Incan Bridge, and it was interesting, although not what we expected.  We couldn't cross it, and wouldn't have wanted to anyway, but . . .

From a distance, while descending.

The "bridge" -- log planks across the hole in the constructed wall.  Note the  "steps" that go around, below and back up -- another way to cross the divide?  We could see no reason (path, construction on the other side?) that one would want to or need to cross this bridge, but apparently it was of military importance.

Then we went into the more popular parts of MP, and joined the masses which had arrived by now (10:30).  I have never heard so many languages spoken in one area before, many of which I couldn't identify.  

Sparsely growing in the ruins, beautiful red stemmed red flowers, about 2 feet tall.  

Next MP will be of the amazing stone work.

And one final thought on Cusco:  we stayed in three unrelated hostels during our time there and near MP, and all three served their continental breakfast butter in scooped balls.  Never seen it before, nor since.  Weird, interesting Cusco.