Grace and Allen's Machu Picchu Honeymoon » Day 8 Pictures (Machu Picchu Visit)

June 8, 2007 - We got an early start and took the 6:30 a.m. bus up to Machu Picchu Park and made the sunrise just in time. It was a pretty spiritual - to see so many people focusing on what it must have been like 500 or so years ago for people living here to see the sun rise over their city. Afterwards, Odon, in his typical self, gave us a well informed and touching tour of the ruins. After the official tour, Grace would rest for about an hour watching our bags as I zoomed up and down Huayna Picchu. When I came back, Grace and I began wandering around the ruins a little more and eventually picked a quiet terrace overlooking Machu Picchu to meditate and people watch. We finally bid farewell to Machu Picchu and left at around 1:30 p.m. We had a nice buffet dinner in town with the rest of the group at around 2 p.m. At 3:30 p.m., we boarded our train back to Cusco. The train ride was interesting, with good views and some interesting entertainment. Sometimes I am amazed at how creative the "entertainment" could be. For example, to sell locally made clothing, a couple of good looking "conductors" who served us food and drinks earlier would also put on a fashion show, using the aisle as a show floor runway, walking in style to hip music played over the loudspeakers. The train was a slow train. After over some four hours, including a half an hour van ride, we finally arrived back at hour hotel. Grace and I would walk around town a bit to buy hats for her sisters before we rejoined others for a celebratory dinner. Odon would not join us for this last dinner though he did show up to say good-bye with his daughter....

Sunrise at Machu Picchu #1	Specters viewing Machu Picchu at sunrise	Machu Picchu at sunrise	Allen at sunrise
Overlooking into river valley	Machu Picchu Flag	Examples of how thatched roof was tied to the stone structures	Classic Machu Picchu View in the morning light
Terraces at Machu Picchu	One of 2 quarries at Machu Picchu	Example of the use of the artificial and the natural to form shelters at Machu Picchu	Temple of the Sun
Allen at the Main Gate	Rock representing the Southern Cross Constellation	Odon demonstration the alignment of the rock representing the Southern Cross Constellation	Grace with terraces and quarries in the backdrop
Allen and Grace	Main courtyard at Machu Picchu (used for ceremonies, games, etc.)	Sun dial at Machu Picchu	Grace at main courtyard
Note the use of rocks to represent real mountains	Ruins and prominent rock formation (forgot the name) in the back	Ruins with Huayna Picchu in the back	Reflection basin
Worker's section of ruins #1	Worker's section of ruins #2	Worker's section of ruins #3	Stairs at Machu Picchu
Temple of the three windows (three has a special meaning in Incan culture) at Machu Picchu	Allen with terraces and guardhouse in the backdrop	Fat Chinchila at ruins	Temple of the Condor at Machu Picchu
One wing of the condor	The other wing of the condor	Ruins with interesting handholds	Llama at a section of the courtyard at Machu Picchu
Temple of the three windows	View of Machu Picchu ruins from peak of Huayna Picchu	View of switchbacks for shuttles to take visitors up to Machu Picchu Ruins	Ruins at Huayna Picchu #1
Terraces at Huayna Picchu	Steep narrow steps at Huayna Picchu	Ruins at Huayna Picchu #2	Main courtyard at Machu Picchu
Allen at main temple (note sinking foundations though)	Grace at main gate	Living quarters of Machu Picchu in the foreground	Strolling through the ruins #1
Strolling through the ruins #2	Strolling through the ruins #3	Strolling through the ruins #4	Temple fo the Sun
Secret Place for Wedding	Detailed engineering work	The Machu Picchu train far below	"Backside" of Machu Picchu ruins
Grace at a set of flying stairs connecting between terraces	Llama close up	More llamas...	Grace checking out the sacrificial altar
Last shot of Machu Picchu before we left	Last portrait at Machu Picchu	Allen and Aimee at the train station	Grace and Allen with our train back to Cusco
Allen with luggage	Grace and Allen in train	Map of train route onboard train	Locals at a train stop
Corn bought from the locals for 5 soles	Entertainment onboard train #1	Entertainment onboard train #2	Music concert Grace and Allen stumbled into at Cusco
Celebratory dinner at Cusco	Food at celebratory dinner at Cusco #1	Food at celebratory dinner at Cusco #2	Food at celebratory dinner at Cusco #3
Local at Agua Calientes	Beer and buffet at Agua Calientes

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