.. Jalbum 8.3 June 4, 2007 - We got an early start today, waking up around 5:30 a.m., packed up, had breakfast, and left by 7 a.m. We did a short hike at Ollantaytambo (Temple of Pacha Mama, Mother Earth), and drove to the trailhead for the start of our Inca Trail hike (finally) before noon. As we would get accustomed, lunch and all the meals on the trails were out of the world good! For our first lunch, we had fresh salad and chicken stir fry, and fruit desert. For dinner, we had Inca cereal (porridge like soup), trout, and canned peach for desert. Although we had tried to be prepared, we were still all in awe and shocked to see how hard the porters worked. In the end, I believe we had some 24 cooks and porters and 2 guides supporting us 10 city slickers. During the day, we carried our day packs (clothes, sun lotion, etc.) while the porters carried our (obnoxiously huge) tents, our gourmet food, and other group gears. All our needs were taken care of, including cooking of food, cleaning of dishes, making of tea, setting up of the toilet tent (by the way, the toilet tent is fine if you are the first one to use it after it's set up, but otherwise, I'd much rather do the bush and cat hole routine than go into that thing...), down to preparing of hot water in the afternoon to wash our body and in the morning to wake up. Grace and I both thought that it was interesting that our morning wake up call consisted gently of a cup of hot tea and a bucket of hot water.... slides/100_4590.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 Getting ready for prehike at Ollantaytambo Getting ready for prehike at Ollantaytambo slides/100_4590.JPG slides/100_4593.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 Statute at town of Ollantaytambo Statute at town of Ollantaytambo slides/100_4593.JPG slides/100_4626.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 Visiting Ollantaytambo Visiting Ollantaytambo slides/100_4626.JPG slides/100_4595.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 Terraces at Ollantaytambo Terraces at Ollantaytambo slides/100_4595.JPG slides/100_4601.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 Altar shaped rock at Ollantaytambo Altar shaped rock at Ollantaytambo slides/100_4601.JPG slides/100_4603.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 Smooth, nicely carved granite rocks at Ollantaytambo - evidence that this was sacred grounds Smooth, nicely carved granite rocks at Ollantaytambo - evidence that this was sacred grounds slides/100_4603.JPG slides/100_4605.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 Huge granites with thin slices of expansion units in between Huge granites with thin slices of expansion units in between slides/100_4605.JPG slides/100_4606.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 Side view of the huge granites Side view of the huge granites slides/100_4606.JPG slides/100_4607.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 Less sacred areas of Ollantaytambo - perhaps a grain storage area Less sacred areas of Ollantaytambo - perhaps a grain storage area slides/100_4607.JPG slides/100_4608highlighted.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 View from the altar rock - a profile of an Inca face? View from the altar rock - a profile of an Inca face? slides/100_4608highlighted.JPG slides/100_4612.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 Walking a level of terrace at Ollantaytambo Walking a level of terrace at Ollantaytambo slides/100_4612.JPG slides/100_4613.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 Visiting the fountains at Ollantaytambo Visiting the fountains at Ollantaytambo slides/100_4613.JPG slides/100_4616.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 One of the fountains at Ollantaytambo One of the fountains at Ollantaytambo slides/100_4616.JPG slides/100_4623.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 Another fountain at Ollantaytambo Another fountain at Ollantaytambo slides/100_4623.JPG slides/100_4625.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 An "indoor fountain" at Ollantaytambo An "indoor fountain" at Ollantaytambo slides/100_4625.JPG slides/100_4630.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 Lots of these political signs/ads in the countryside Lots of these political signs/ads in the countryside slides/100_4630.JPG slides/DSC_2290.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 Guinea Pigs for dinner? Guinea Pigs for dinner? slides/DSC_2290.jpg slides/DSC_2291.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 Guinea Pigs (found while Bruce was looking for rest rooms) Guinea Pigs (found while Bruce was looking for rest rooms) slides/DSC_2291.jpg slides/100_4627.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 At the Inca Trail head - packing for our 4 day hike to Machu Picchu At the Inca Trail head - packing for our 4 day hike to Machu Picchu slides/100_4627.JPG slides/100_4629.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 Returning train from Machu Picchu back to Cusco Returning train from Machu Picchu back to Cusco slides/100_4629.JPG slides/100_4633.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 At the Inca trail head At the Inca trail head slides/100_4633.JPG slides/DSC_2404.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 From left to right: Aimee, Eric, Allen, Grace, Carin, Stephen, Jo, Ian, Kathie, and Bruce From left to right: Aimee, Eric, Allen, Grace, Carin, Stephen, Jo, Ian, Kathie, and Bruce slides/DSC_2404.jpg slides/DSC_2414.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 After getting our Machu Picchu passport stamp After getting our Machu Picchu passport stamp slides/DSC_2414.jpg slides/100_4636.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 Bridge on which we used to cross the Urubamba River Bridge on which we used to cross the Urubamba River slides/100_4636.JPG slides/100_4637.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 The Urubamba River The Urubamba River slides/100_4637.JPG slides/100_4638.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 Start of hike Start of hike slides/100_4638.JPG slides/100_4640.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 Peruvian agave Peruvian agave slides/100_4640.JPG slides/100_4641.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 Donkey we met on our first rest stop Donkey we met on our first rest stop slides/100_4641.JPG slides/100_4643.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 Girl we met after our first rest stop Girl we met after our first rest stop slides/100_4643.JPG slides/100_4644.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 Ruin across the Urubamba River Ruin across the Urubamba River slides/100_4644.JPG slides/DSC_2427.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 Agave plant for making Tequilas Agave plant for making Tequilas slides/DSC_2427.jpg slides/DSC_2452.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 Cactus Cactus slides/DSC_2452.jpg slides/100_4646.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 Sheep along the way Sheep along the way slides/100_4646.JPG slides/DSC_2417.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 Just what it looks like Just what it looks like slides/DSC_2417.jpg slides/100_4649.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 Great cloud shows on our hike Great cloud shows on our hike slides/100_4649.JPG slides/DSC_2475.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 Cloud shows behind us Cloud shows behind us slides/DSC_2475.jpg slides/100_4650.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 An Inca lookout point An Inca lookout point slides/100_4650.JPG slides/100_4651.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 Out of nowhere - ruins at Llactapata! Out of nowhere - ruins at Llactapata! slides/100_4651.JPG slides/100_4653.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 Grace and Allen at Llactapata Grace and Allen at Llactapata slides/100_4653.JPG slides/100_4655.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 Our first lunch - no one knew how to accept all this service! Our first lunch - no one knew how to accept all this service! slides/100_4655.JPG slides/100_4656.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 A horse meandered in as we ate our lunch A horse meandered in as we ate our lunch slides/100_4656.JPG slides/100_4657.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 We would got a minimum of three course meals every lunch and dinner on the trails We would got a minimum of three course meals every lunch and dinner on the trails slides/100_4657.JPG slides/100_4658.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 What more can you ask for? What more can you ask for? slides/100_4658.JPG slides/100_4660.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 A bull meandered in as we ate our lunch A bull meandered in as we ate our lunch slides/100_4660.JPG slides/100_4662.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 Closer up of bull Closer up of bull slides/100_4662.JPG slides/100_4664.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 Our lunch tent Our lunch tent slides/100_4664.JPG slides/100_4665.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 A small ruin near our lunch site A small ruin near our lunch site slides/100_4665.JPG slides/100_4666.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 Sheep? Sheep? slides/100_4666.JPG slides/DSC_2502.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 Lamb? Lamb? slides/DSC_2502.jpg slides/DSC_2468.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 Pig? Pig? slides/DSC_2468.jpg slides/100_4668.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 Site of former Inca Altar (long since stolen/vandalized) Site of former Inca Altar (long since stolen/vandalized) slides/100_4668.JPG slides/100_4669.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 View from a lookout View from a lookout slides/100_4669.JPG slides/100_4670.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 Local people's house Local people's house slides/100_4670.JPG slides/100_4673.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 Grace inspecting her clothes at camp at Wayllabamba Grace inspecting her clothes at camp at Wayllabamba slides/100_4673.JPG slides/100_4674.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 Allen inspecting his clothes Allen inspecting his clothes slides/100_4674.JPG slides/100_4675.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 Grace very happy with the spacious tent Grace very happy with the spacious tent slides/100_4675.JPG ../../pictures/june4/100_4622-flv.flv# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 Playing with one of the fountains at Ollantaytambo (flv file) Playing with one of the fountains at Ollantaytambo (flv file) slides/100_4622-flv.jpg ../../pictures/june4/100_4622.MOV# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:11 -0700 Playing with one of the fountains at Ollantaytambo (MOV file) Playing with one of the fountains at Ollantaytambo (MOV file) slides/100_4622.jpg