Bit of a Blog : Crown Princess : Buenos Aires - Valparaiso : February 1st 2017

[NorbertsNiece]

 

 

 

 

Roof ornament

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

 

 

 

The station staff are immaculately dressed. The names on our tickets are checked against our passports.

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

He's playing ABBA.

 

 

It's a pretty station with a coffee shop that has free wifi (assuming you make a purchase)

 

 

 

The bell is struck announcing boarding is to commence

 

 

 

The steps up to the carriages are washed down...... it's immaculate

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Food carts are loaded

 

 

The carriages are long. There are three types of tourist train ; The Hiram Bingham, The Expedition and this one The Vistadome.

 

 

 

And we're off

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

The train staff on board are immaculately turned out...... we are never in the carriage without a member of staff present.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

 

 

We make a stop en route which is the start of the Inca Trail. The trail is closed in February for maintenance purposes. It can take 2 - 4 days to walk the trail to Machu Picchu.

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Unable to focus in on someone walking up there.

 

 

 

 

The town of Qorihuayrachina is the 2nd starting point for the Inca Trail. (3 days 2 nights)

 

 

I become quite fond of Coca tea

 

 

Looks tasty.... I get an apple and a banana

 

Edited February 27, 2017 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

 

 

Up there is the archaeological site of Wiñaywayna (Forever Young), up on the left of the hill......

 

Almost 2 hours after boarding : Aqua Calientes (Hot Water) / Machu Picchu station

 

 

We are given our return bus tickets..... yeap..... not there yet..... there's a bus from the town centre to take us up to the site.

 

There's a covered market right at the station

 

 

We have to cross the river

 

[NorbertsNiece]

 

 

Looks like we're not in Texas any more

 

 

The next picture I have is at the entrance to the site. I didn't have a window seat heading up. I don't have one going back. Think Alpine. Think uneven. Think sheer drops. 20/25 minutes ish. A tad scary. And at speed. Local bus type transport.

 

 

I am reliably informed that the Sun Gate is up there...... once the main entrance to Machu Picchu.... at least it's stopped raining.

 

[NorbertsNiece]

in 1911 Hiram Bingham announced the presence of Machu Picchu to the outside world. There are unsubstantiated claims from others that THEY had discovered and climbed it first..... of course the locals had known for many years that it was there..... Although originally believed to have been of religious significance, it was in fact a royal estate or summer home..... the switchback road up from the Urubamba river is called the Hiram Bingham Highway!

 

 

That's the train station down there.......

 

 

 

The cloud is to come and go throughout.

 

 

 

It's at this point that I take off on my own. I'm aware that Rom will have plenty to say and is in fact heading down when I want to head up. I'm conscious that my stamina may be compromised by the 2,430m height and there's no way I'm not doing this..... hate double negatives... sorry. To the left is the Inca Bridge, the Guardhouse, the Sun Gate and Machu Picchu. To the right is Huayna Picchu (the river bends round it).

 

[NorbertsNiece]

I start climbing

 

 

And here my breath is taken away. THE view. I will confess that I am panting. It's been hard work getting to this point.

 

 

 

 

Really?! Whistles from a safety guard are blown.

 

 

Edited February 28, 2017 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

 

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

 

The way down is as perilous for me as the way up..... it's signed one way..... only someone isn't playing

 

 

There is a stand off. Tourist has a German accent. Safety whistles are blown again and words exchanged.

 

 

 

More about the Sacred Plaza here

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

 

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

More about the Sacred Rock here (get your browser to translate....)

 

 

 

it's really hard to appreciate it with all the tourists....

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

 

 

The Incas would gaze at the heavens through the reflections in pools of water

 

 

 

 

[NancyIL]

Stunning! Machu Picchu is on my bucket list!

[NorbertsNiece]

Stunning! Machu Picchu is on my bucket list!

 

 

Oh Nancy, I thought I was a seasoned hiker having strolled around the Alps, actually at higher altitude!.

This was something else entirely!! Now when I see an incline when out walking the dog I say, "You climbed Machu Picchu you stupid woman and you're nervous about a bit of mud on a slope!"

[NancyIL]

Oh Nancy, I thought I was a seasoned hiker having strolled around the Alps, actually at higher altitude!.

This was something else entirely!! Now when I see an incline when out walking the dog I say, "You climbed Machu Picchu you stupid woman and you're nervous about a bit of mud on a slope!"

 

 

Impressive! Were you the only person in your tour group who went UP when the guide went down?

[NorbertsNiece]

Impressive! Were you the only person in your tour group who went UP when the guide went down?

 

Yeap. I know some went up subsequently... not all..... we were accompanied by a 2nd guide who was there to help those who needed.

[Jasperdo]

Stunning Machu Picchu photos. I'd love to visit there someday.

[Woobstr112G]

Beautiful pictures.....:):):)

Bob

[ariel81]

Sorry,there is a couple of small mistakes in your lovely review.There is no sea in buenos aires,is the river plate.And once,is not the most populous jewish quarter,it seems so because many jews in traditional garb live there,the most popular is belgrano,in the north part of the city,not that far from the small airport that you visited,in fact

[NorbertsNiece]

Sorry,there is a couple of small mistakes in your lovely review.There is no sea in buenos aires,is the river plate.And once,is not the most populous jewish quarter,it seems so because many jews in traditional garb live there,the most popular is belgrano,in the north part of the city,not that far from the small airport that you visited,in fact

 

No need to apologise. Always happy to be corrected. :D

[ariel81]

Another nice fact,my father?s first marriage was in the libertad temple,the one you visited.