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Peru |
| Inca
Trail - Day 4 at Machu Picchu - 15/04/2004 |
(Click on any of the thumbnails for a larger image)
4th Morning, about 6:00am after an hour and half hike, arrived at the 'Sun Gate' (Intipata) wich looks down towards Machu Picchu |
All of the hikers waiting for sunrise to hit the city below... |
Machu Picchu means 'Old Mountain' |
First sight of Machu Picchu... |
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A bit overcast... |
An orchid of some importance... |
Llamas posing for the camera... |
...arrogant beast... |
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Some traditional views of Machu Picchu... |
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After 4 days, we were gratefull to arrive |
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Group photo - 18 in all |
The large peak behind the city call Huayna Picchu, the 'Young Mountain' |
Aquaduct cut out off rock to feed ceremonial bath.. . |
Remains of Temple of Sun |
Close-up of 'Residential Area' |
Freddy describing what they imagine the Incas did to split the granite for building blocks: Use bronze chisels to make holes, then soak wooden wedges to split the rock... |
Typical wall with cylinder cut from stone for roof beams |
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'Temple' building slipping - Japanese scientists estimate Machu Picchu slipping downhill 2cm every year - it has survived the last 3 major earthquakes, in the last 500 years |
One of the building blocks behind the 'Temple' building - consists of 24 corners |
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Looking back across Machu Picchu to where we came from in the morning |
Some think this may be a model of the mountains surrounding Machu Picchu |
Freddy demonstrating the 'Sun Watch' used to calculate the Summer and Winter equinox |
Close-up of what is believed to be the Inca kings palace |
Three windows near the 'Temple' representing the 'Triology' of Sun,Water and Earth or; Puma, Condor and Snake... all are equally important for the spiritual Inca... |
Polished/flattened stone, filled with water, used to stud y the stars and/or sun in it's reflection... |
Condor (head at front with white collar) used to sacrifice Llamas for the dead which are the sent 'to the stars etc.' The beak feeds from the blood of the Llama collecting in the collar |
Behind the Condor, a walkway which winds it's way down and then up... |
...to where the dead are wrapped up and secured in small niches looking down onto the Condor |
Terraces manicured... |
16 'cleansing baths' which are fed from the auqduct from below the Temple of Water... |
...note the channels cut out of the bedrock to ensure the flow of water is even and doesn't flow unchecked |
View from Huayna Picchu, 'The Young Mountain' looking down on to the city below and the Urubamba river flowing around it's base |
Depending on your view, the city is supposed to look like a Condor in flight |
Terraces of the small house on top Huayna Picchu |
Joyce enjoying the view after a 45min hike up the mountain... |
...looking down the river valley behind the city you can see a hydro-electric power plant |
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...looking down in front of the city with the switchback road for the tour buses from Aguas Caliente... |
Aguas Caliente ('Hot Water') because of hot springs in the village - this is the river running through it which contributed to mudslides a few days before we arrived |
Tourist lane in Aguas Caliente... |
Town square at night... |
Last morning before we left for Cusco - railway running through the centre of the town |
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We had to walk 1km to meet the train as a result of... |
...mudslides... |
...II people killed |
Video
of Machu Picchu City, Video of
surrounding area from NOTE: You can only view as a Quicktme movie. Download Quicktime here |
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