Journey to Machu Picchu, Part II

Journey to Machu Picchu, Part II

Has there been a place that you had always wanted to go? For me, it was Machu Picchu and the world!

Started the day with an early breakfast at 5am so that we can enjoy the sunrise over Machu Picchu. The views over this lost city of the Incas, as the sun climbed up the horizon, were magnificient. With the passing minutes, the interplay between the sun’s rays and the shadows from the surrounding mountain peaks rewarded us with ever-changing views. These same mountain peaks and the dense jungles were the reasons why the Spanish conquistadores failed to find Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site .

After a 4-day Salkantay Trek, I am posing for the classic postcard shot!

Spending some 7 hours, more than the standard 2 hours, our group of very seasoned trekkers, except for me as a newbie, engaged in discussions about the Incas and their civilization compared with their experiences in the Himalayas and Kilimanjaro.  Our Inca guide, visibly proud of his ancestry, spent nearly 7 hours explaining the legends and exploits of the inhabitants of Machu Picchu. Tired out by the hours of walking up and down the site, a rest in the shade quickly turned into a snooze. And I was dreaming of the many more wonderful treks that I can do soon…

Now, it’s time for you to go through your bucket list, pick up a place that you so dearly wanted to go and start planning.