Our guide Alvaro is 3/4 Inca and 1/4 Spanish. He states that his mother is "pure" Inca. We are lucky to see these sites with him as he is very knowledgeable in the ways of the Inca or Quechua people. He himself practices some of the spiritual rituals and explains the old and new beliefs as we explore the Inca sites.
Machupichu is a magical place. I sits at altitude 8,000ft and is the "eyebrow" of the jungle. It is a cloudforest, very moist and some of the tropical vegetation starts here. There are over 1,000 varieties of orchids (unfortunately they begin blooming in Dec.) It sits in the middle of 4 mountains. Machupichu to the North, Waynapichu in the South, another in the West and East. It is on a plateau exactly in the middle. It is thought now that it was a ceremonial city a mecca. There are many astronomy features that are only now being discovered. About 30% of the city is still covered. If they did not maintain the place now, in about 8 months it would be completely covered again by vegetation.
Alvaro took us threw the site and explained all the places, ceremonial sites, temple and living spaces. We then had dinner at a local restaurant. We had trout which was perfect. The next morning we got up and hiked to the Sun gate. I will separate it in another post.
1. Rooms overlooking canyon
2. Alvaro makes offering of coca leaves at the head of the condor (shaped rock)
3. Looking at buildings above us
4. Placing coca leaves at an alter
5. Main Plaza with Waynapichu in the backround. Also you can see peaks for thatched roofs of residences. about 800 people lived here
6. Doorway important due to very high level rock technique
7. Walking along lower terraces
8. Dishes that are thought to be mirror bowls. They reflected the sky/constellations. This room did not have a roof it was an observatory
9. The condor rock from other side
10. Terraces. Llamas live in the park and keep the grass mowed
11. Atop the terraces
12. Double doorjam - symbol of a very significant place probably a temple and only chosen people passed through
13. Climbing to the high site that overlooks the plaza. Could have been for sacrifices, giving speeches (acoustics are amazing. We have a prior opera singer in our group who broke into an aria)
13. Other end of plaza
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