Machu Picchu
The trip to
Machu Picchu provided a levataccia around 05:30 to turn the train that would lead us up to
Agua Caliente, the last inhabited town before getting to the ruins of the Inca city. I do not know if you've never heard dell'Inca Trail, the legendary and ancient Inca trail that leads to the Macchu Picchu with a long walk for four days, camped in tents and eating in the middle of the jungle ... we had originally thought to reach the ruins of ancient cities in this suggestive way, but several factors have prevented him. First, there are long waiting lists and you must book your trip months in advance, and secondly there is a problem related to the cost, very, very high (around $ 270 U.S.!), And thirdly, reached this stage of our journey around the world, then we were not so sure of our physical and athletic abilities, and have "preferred" a more comfortable and easy.
Agua Caliente reached after a journey of four hours we were invariably greeted and escorted to our hotel where we have discarded weapons and luggage. We could not determine at some other hotels, but to meet the needs of a single night, our new accommodation could be fine. One thing you may notice immediately upon approaching
Agua Caliente is the abrupt change of vegetation: the presence of bay trees and sporadic eucaliptos, leave space to a lush forest that seems to appear from nowhere. Even the temperature changes and the stinging cold gives way to a more temperate climate ... a sort of oasis in the desert!
First of all we have to give a direct view to the city that appeared to be exclusively in restaurants, in fact,
Agua Caliente is a very small village and our walk was exhausted very quickly. The most interesting of
Agua Caliente is but the fringe of the city, right near the hotel where he resided: as the same name, "
Agua Caliente" is known for its hot springs in which, for a modest price, You can spend some pleasant hours. That is exactly what we did! Armed with costume and towel, we went to bathe in these waters nice and relaxing, preparing for the forthcoming visit of
Machu Picchu.
Levataccia seen the previous day for a visit to
Machu Picchu we had decided to wake up too early. The alarm was sounded at 07:30 and after a quick breakfast we brought to the city center, there appeared before two options: take a bus that would have brought up in the top right or do it on foot. We have evaluated the benefits of a climb on foot and honestly we did not find anyone, because the climb was divincolata along the same road traveled by bus. The disadvantages on the other were to make a huge effort and to eat the dust of the many buses that were passing on the road.
Taken the mini bus, in the space of twenty minutes we were at one of the most important archaeological sites in the world. Not just because we entered the day before we were worried about a guide book that we had to wait at the entrance to the park. After thirty minutes, we heard our names say it was the leadership that called us to start together with another ten people on our tour to Macchu Picchu.
First of all, the guide led us on top of a hill overlooking the ruins of the ancient city for a complete picture: the glance of what was left speechless, you empty the mind and fill your heart. Perched on the top of the mountain, thanks to an ingenious series of terraces, one could discern the "high" and one called "low", divided by a long central avenue. All around the city a landscape made of green and bristly hills that seemed to embrace. Our visit is then entered in detail, leading us to pass through the ancient ruins, making a stop on the temples (Temple of the Sun and Temple of the Condor) and the most important buildings. The visit lasted approximately three hours, after which the guide went on leave in the middle of the main square and has left us free to visit the city alone. We, because we did not have much time available, we preferred to go back over that hill, it started our visit and from where it was possible to have a visual overview of the whole city. We were watching them sit in silence so much beauty, enchanted by the magic of this place ... But nothing lasts forever and after a mezz'oretta we had to go out and ripigliare the van to return to
Agua Caliente.
Hence recovered backpacks at the hotel, we were directed to the station to board a train that would take us to Cuzco. We arrived at their destination at around 20:00, tired but happy, time to wash, eat and rush to bed because tomorrow we expect another train ... not a train anywhere, but the famous toy train of the Andes that we had to return to
Puno.