Americas

[Visited: December 1991]

In the midst of the worst period Peru has had in recent times, I decided to visit the country. At the time, it was suffering both from continuous terrorist attacks, as well as cholera epidemics. Moreover, it had gained a dubious reputation amongst travellers for being definitely unsafe. It seemed the perfect time to visit in quietness.
On the way to Macchu Picchu, I was happy for this decision. There were only very few tourists to go to the major sight of the country and, indeed, the continent. At a certain point in the afternoon, I discovered that all visitors to the ruins had disappeared to catch the train back to Cuzco. So I was left all alone on that high spot in the Andes - it seemed that the ruins were for me alone. I truly enjoyed this opportunity.
And I also decided to walk back some hours on the Inca trail. I ended up sleeping near the Wiñay Wayna ruins. The visit to those I will never forget. I managed to be there at sunrise, and it was such a major sight to see the sun rise over the mountains, to be there seemingly on top of the world, to be able to look deep down into the valley, through the clouds... It was certainly a mystical experience!

Around the World in 80 Clicks

Personal travel impressions both in words and images from Machu Picchu (Peru). Clicking on the pictures enlarges them and enables you to send the picture as a free e-card or download it for personal use, for instance, on your weblog. Or click on the map above to visit more places close to Machu Picchu.
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