.. Jalbum 8.3 June 7, 2007 - This is our last day of hiking.... We visited a few ruins along the way as we hiked but the highlight was really begin after lunch. At a restaurant at Wiñaywayna, our porter would prepare a last meal for us. Wiñaywayna is the place where the porters and us would part ways. After lunch, we visited the ruins at Wiñaywayna before heading back on trail toward Machu Picchu. We quickly began descending into the Cloud Forest. It was fun seeing the quick changes in the environment as we descended into the subtropical region of the mountains, hiking among giant firms, mossy trees, and bamboo. Soon, we were hiking up steep stairs to Intipunku. Most of us took a breather at Intipunku, a small ruins that many mistaken for the gate of the sun. The "real" gate of the sun is some 20 or so minutes hike from Intipunku. At the "real" gate of the sun is what many consider the highlight of the day, if not the trip. It is here that we got our first glimpse of Machu Picchu. What a awe-inspiring sight! We rested a little and took zillions of pictures. During the hour or so of hiking downhills to the entrance of the Machu Picchu park, Odon would tell us more of the stories and theories surrounding the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu. At the gate, we took a shuttle down to Auga Calientes and walk to our five star hotel. The hotel looked nice, but Grace and I would have a small ordeal there. Everyone looked forward to a hot shower, some messaging, and a bed to sleep. Unfortunately for Grace, the hot shower lasted only a minute before she was chased out of the shower when the water suddenly turned cold. After a repairman confirmed that we needed to switch room, the bell boy would have trouble with the keys for our second room. Finally, after a few more back and forth, with Grace standing outside still in robes, they finally took us to a third room where the key and shower actually worked. After our ordeal, we would walk around town a little before joining the rest of the group, including Odon and surprisingly Miguel, for a nice dinner at the hotel's restaurant. We would turn in early to bed for an early start the next day - to catch the sun rise over Machu Picchu! slides/100_4848.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Grace getting up for sunrise washing her hands in a nice warm bucket of water prepared by the porters Grace getting up for sunrise washing her hands in a nice warm bucket of water prepared by the porters slides/100_4848.JPG slides/DSC_3241.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Sunshine hits a local peak near Phuyupatamarka Sunshine hits a local peak near Phuyupatamarka slides/DSC_3241.jpg slides/100_4849.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 View of sunrise from our tent! View of sunrise from our tent! slides/100_4849.JPG slides/100_4851.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 OK - that was nice - can I go back to sleep now? OK - that was nice - can I go back to sleep now? slides/100_4851.JPG slides/100_4855.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 View of sunrise at Phuyupatamarka slightly away from our tent View of sunrise at Phuyupatamarka slightly away from our tent slides/100_4855.JPG slides/DSC_3136.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 View of surroundings at Phuyupatamarka at sunrise #1 View of surroundings at Phuyupatamarka at sunrise #1 slides/DSC_3136.jpg slides/DSC_3138.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 View of surroundings at Phuyupatamarka at sunrise #2 View of surroundings at Phuyupatamarka at sunrise #2 slides/DSC_3138.jpg slides/100_4853.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 View of surroundings at Phuyupatamarka at sunrise #3 View of surroundings at Phuyupatamarka at sunrise #3 slides/100_4853.JPG slides/100_4858.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 View of surroundings at Phuyupatamarka at sunrise #4 View of surroundings at Phuyupatamarka at sunrise #4 slides/100_4858.JPG slides/DSC_3158.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Packing up Packing up slides/DSC_3158.jpg slides/100_4864.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Last breakfast at trail Last breakfast at trail slides/100_4864.JPG slides/100_4865.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Jo, Steve, and Ian Jo, Steve, and Ian slides/100_4865.JPG slides/100_4866.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Preparations for the porter ceremony Preparations for the porter ceremony slides/100_4866.JPG slides/100_4870.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Cooks and porters with REI Adventure sign Cooks and porters with REI Adventure sign slides/100_4870.JPG slides/100_4871.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Cooks and porters with Trek Peru sign Cooks and porters with Trek Peru sign slides/100_4871.JPG slides/100_4875.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Ian thanking the cooks in Spanish Ian thanking the cooks in Spanish slides/100_4875.JPG slides/100_4876.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Ian thanking the porters in Spanish Ian thanking the porters in Spanish slides/100_4876.JPG slides/100_4880.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Start of raffle Start of raffle slides/100_4880.JPG slides/100_4881.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Raffling away prizes #1 Raffling away prizes #1 slides/100_4881.JPG slides/100_4885.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Raffling away prizes #2 Raffling away prizes #2 slides/100_4885.JPG slides/100_4888.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Porters had to get water up for us a few hundred feet below at this spring/fountain Porters had to get water up for us a few hundred feet below at this spring/fountain slides/100_4888.JPG slides/100_4889.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Part of the stairs leading down to the spring/fountain Part of the stairs leading down to the spring/fountain slides/100_4889.JPG slides/100_4895.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Our group at ruins at Phuyupatamarka #1 Our group at ruins at Phuyupatamarka #1 slides/100_4895.JPG slides/100_4896.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Ruins at Phuyupatamarka #1 Ruins at Phuyupatamarka #1 slides/100_4896.JPG slides/100_4898.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Our group at ruins at Phuyupatamarka #2 Our group at ruins at Phuyupatamarka #2 slides/100_4898.JPG slides/100_4899.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Ruins at Phuyupatamarka #2 Ruins at Phuyupatamarka #2 slides/100_4899.JPG slides/100_4903.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Ruins at Phuyupatamarka #3 Ruins at Phuyupatamarka #3 slides/100_4903.JPG slides/100_4909.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 More ruins through the canopies by the trail More ruins through the canopies by the trail slides/100_4909.JPG slides/100_4911.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Hiking through a forest #1 Hiking through a forest #1 slides/100_4911.JPG slides/100_4912.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Hiking through a forest #2 Hiking through a forest #2 slides/100_4912.JPG slides/100_4914.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Breather along the trail near a small ruin Breather along the trail near a small ruin slides/100_4914.JPG slides/100_4916.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Odon descending stairs Odon descending stairs slides/100_4916.JPG slides/100_4922.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Flowers Flowers slides/100_4922.JPG slides/100_4923.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Someone has to do the hard work! Someone has to do the hard work! slides/100_4923.JPG slides/100_4926.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Aren't we there yet? Aren't we there yet? slides/100_4926.JPG slides/100_4928.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Bigger trees appear Bigger trees appear slides/100_4928.JPG slides/100_4930.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Mossy trees Mossy trees slides/100_4930.JPG slides/100_4932.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 The Urubamba River The Urubamba River slides/100_4932.JPG slides/100_4933.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Grace checking out the views Grace checking out the views slides/100_4933.JPG slides/100_4935.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Porters and we part here after lunch Porters and we part here after lunch slides/100_4935.JPG slides/100_4936.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Another group of porters together with Allen and Miguel (our head porter) Another group of porters together with Allen and Miguel (our head porter) slides/100_4936.JPG slides/100_4939.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Allen with the ruins of Wiñaywayna in the backdrop Allen with the ruins of Wiñaywayna in the backdrop slides/100_4939.JPG slides/100_4941.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Allen at Wiñaywayna Allen at Wiñaywayna slides/100_4941.JPG slides/100_4942.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Allen through a window at Wiñaywayna Allen through a window at Wiñaywayna slides/100_4942.JPG slides/100_4944.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 View through a window at Wiñaywayna View through a window at Wiñaywayna slides/100_4944.JPG slides/100_4945.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Group of us at Wiñaywayna Group of us at Wiñaywayna slides/100_4945.JPG slides/100_4948.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Doorway at Wiñaywayna Doorway at Wiñaywayna slides/100_4948.JPG slides/100_4949.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Ruins at Wiñaywayna Ruins at Wiñaywayna slides/100_4949.JPG slides/100_4950.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Ruins across the Urubamba River as we neared Machu Picchu Ruins across the Urubamba River as we neared Machu Picchu slides/100_4950.JPG slides/100_4953.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Cloud forest Cloud forest slides/100_4953.JPG slides/100_4959.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Giant ferns in the Cloud Forest Giant ferns in the Cloud Forest slides/100_4959.JPG slides/100_4960.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Hydroelectric station by the Urubamba River Hydroelectric station by the Urubamba River slides/100_4960.JPG slides/100_4962.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Inca Trail through the Cloud Forest Inca Trail through the Cloud Forest slides/100_4962.JPG slides/100_4963.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Grace hiking up to the Intipunku Grace hiking up to the Intipunku slides/100_4963.JPG slides/100_4968.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Grace at Intipunku #1 Grace at Intipunku #1 slides/100_4968.JPG slides/100_4965.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Grace at Intipunku #2 Grace at Intipunku #2 slides/100_4965.JPG slides/100_4969.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 First View of Machu Picchu Ruins! First View of Machu Picchu Ruins! slides/100_4969.JPG slides/100_4971.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Grace and Allen at the Gate of the Sun #1 Grace and Allen at the Gate of the Sun #1 slides/100_4971.JPG slides/100_4973.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Grace and Allen at the Gate of the Sun #2 Grace and Allen at the Gate of the Sun #2 slides/100_4973.JPG slides/100_4974.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Peek of Machu Picchu from the trees at the Gate of the Sun Peek of Machu Picchu from the trees at the Gate of the Sun slides/100_4974.JPG slides/100_4978.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Grace and Allen with Machu Picchu in the backdrop #1 Grace and Allen with Machu Picchu in the backdrop #1 slides/100_4978.JPG slides/100_4980.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Odon, Allen, Grace, and Ramiro with Machu Picchu in the backdrop Odon, Allen, Grace, and Ramiro with Machu Picchu in the backdrop slides/100_4980.JPG slides/100_4981.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Gate of the Sun Gate of the Sun slides/100_4981.JPG slides/100_4986.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Machu Picchu in the afternoon sun Machu Picchu in the afternoon sun slides/100_4986.JPG slides/100_4994.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Inca Trail leading into Machu Picchu #1 Inca Trail leading into Machu Picchu #1 slides/100_4994.JPG slides/DSC_3363.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Inca Trail leading into Machu Picchu #2 Inca Trail leading into Machu Picchu #2 slides/DSC_3363.jpg slides/100_4996.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Grace and Allen paying respect to Pachu Mama (Mother Earth) Grace and Allen paying respect to Pachu Mama (Mother Earth) slides/100_4996.JPG slides/100_5002.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Grace and Allen with Machu Picchu in the backdrop #2 Grace and Allen with Machu Picchu in the backdrop #2 slides/100_5002.JPG slides/100_5003.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Grace and Allen with Machu Picchu in the backdrop #3 Grace and Allen with Machu Picchu in the backdrop #3 slides/100_5003.JPG slides/DSC_3459.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Magestic view approaching Machu Picchu Magestic view approaching Machu Picchu slides/DSC_3459.jpg slides/100_5006.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Allen with Llama #1 Allen with Llama #1 slides/100_5006.JPG slides/100_5007.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Allen with Llama #2 Allen with Llama #2 slides/100_5007.JPG slides/100_5008.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Grace with Llama Grace with Llama slides/100_5008.JPG slides/100_5009.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Grace overlooking Machu Picchu Grace overlooking Machu Picchu slides/100_5009.JPG slides/100_5010.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Classic Machu Picchu View in the afternoon sun Classic Machu Picchu View in the afternoon sun slides/100_5010.JPG slides/100_5011.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Grace and Allen with Llama Grace and Allen with Llama slides/100_5011.JPG slides/100_5012.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Machu Picchu in the lengthening shadows of the setting sun Machu Picchu in the lengthening shadows of the setting sun slides/100_5012.JPG slides/100_5013.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Grace and Allen with Machu Picchu in the backdrop #4 Grace and Allen with Machu Picchu in the backdrop #4 slides/100_5013.JPG slides/100_5014.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Allen at the guards tower Allen at the guards tower slides/100_5014.JPG slides/100_5017.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Grace at the guards tower Grace at the guards tower slides/100_5017.JPG slides/100_5019.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 The Machu Picchu Park logo looks also like a tooth logo! The Machu Picchu Park logo looks also like a tooth logo! slides/100_5019.JPG slides/100_5020.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 At our room in a supposed five star hotel where water would suddenly turn cold for Grace At our room in a supposed five star hotel where water would suddenly turn cold for Grace slides/100_5020.JPG slides/100_5021.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 At our third room in a supposed five star hotel where we could finally get hot water (ironically, we had problems getting hot water at a five star hotel but never had the problem with the porters on the trails, who always provided us with hot water promptly and on schedule!) At our third room in a supposed five star hotel where we could finally get hot water (ironically, we had problems getting hot water at a five star hotel but never had the problem with the porters on the trails, who always provided us with hot water promptly and on schedule!) slides/100_5021.JPG slides/100_5022.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 At the balcony of our third room At the balcony of our third room slides/100_5022.JPG slides/100_5026.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Walking around Agua Calientes at night Walking around Agua Calientes at night slides/100_5026.JPG slides/100_5027.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 A mural at Agua Calientes A mural at Agua Calientes slides/100_5027.JPG slides/DSC_3361.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 More local fauna... More local fauna... slides/DSC_3361.jpg slides/DSC_3362.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Begonia Begonia slides/DSC_3362.jpg slides/DSC_3389.html# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 slides/DSC_3389.jpg ../../pictures/june7/100_4905-rotated.flv# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Porters from another group running down stairs (rotated flv file) Porters from another group running down stairs (rotated flv file) slides/100_4905-rotated.jpg ../../pictures/june7/100_4905.MOV# Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:33:22 -0700 Porters from another group running down stairs (original sideways MOV file) Porters from another group running down stairs (original sideways MOV file) slides/100_4905.jpg