Machu Picchu!

Our first glimpse of Machu Picchu!
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3.1.06

Got the main plaza and met with Katie & Jude. We eventually got to Machu Picchu at a bout 6.15am, when there were very few people there.

"City in the clouds"

IT WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!! A “City in the clouds”. Pictures and words cannot describe the atmosphere, and it made us realise how lucky we were to be on this adventure. An experience not to be missed by anyone.

Further into the city
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First of all we climbed up Hichory Picchu, a smaller hill in between Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu. It was a bit leg shaky, especially the rope climb up the cliff face! If our parents only knew what we had to do to get the photos we took! The 90 degree ladders of the larger mountain, Huanya Picchu, put Jess off a little, and it made Damian nervous enough watching Jess on the previous climb. Jess wouldn’t let Damian do it on his own (Damian: Thankfully!) Instead we headed off on another path to the “Sun Gate”, and also the Inca Bridge, round either side of Machu Picchu. The views from both were stunning and worth the scary trek around the cliff edge. No barriers to stop you falling the 2000ft down! (It would have been Ian’s paradise!)

If our parents only knew how we got this shot!
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The ruins themselves were really interesting and very much in tact. There is still little known about the city, or why it was abandoned. The conquistadors never came across the city, thankfully, as they destroyed most of the other inca villages they conquered.

We met a few llamas along the way, and then decided to walk the 8Km down the mountain to save the bus fare home!

This day was the highlight of our trip so far!

4.1.06

On our way back from the Inca Bridge
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Felt the after effects of our days exploring and so just chilled out.

5.1.06

We caught the Hogwarts express at 5.45am back to Cusco. Met up with chewy for a game of footy in the courtyard of the hostel!

We visited a few museums in the afternoon, including a contemporary art museum. This stuff is wasted on us, we don’t have a clue!

We climbed up all the way up there to the Sun Gate!
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6.1.06

Said our goodbye’s to Chewy, packed up and started making our way to Costa Rica!