On today’s Weekly Photo Challenge Krista asks ” What does reward mean to you?”
The answer is found in this gallery of photos taken after our six day trek to Machu Picchu in June 2013. Arriving in the early morning of the seventh day, with the sun’s rays illuminating a scene that can best be described as theatrical in its beauty, was a moment of pure magic and the beginning of a never-to-be-forgotten day of wonder and amazement.
A year ago we zig-zagged for six days along the Salkantay Trail to Machu Picchu…
…exploring this archeological wonder on the seventh day…
…climbing to the peak of Huayna picchu in the morning…
…and the Sun Gate in the afternoon, with this spectacular view looking back.
An adventure to remember, worth every zig and every zag…
Today, May 19th, marks the One Year Anniversary of thechangingpalette.
Happy Birthday to me!
I started blogging one year ago as a complete novice with machupicchucountdown, in preparation for our trek to Machu Picchu, the adventure of a lifetime . With this week’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Work of Art, my recent painting of this archeological wonder seems to be the perfect way to celebrate the occasion.
Thank you to WordPress who make it all possible, to the great people at The Daily Post who have made me a better blogger (I hope), and to all of you who have been gracious enough to follow me on my journey. Over the year I have met so many of you in the blogosphere and have enjoyed your company as we have travelled together to distant lands and shared new adventures.
I look forward to Year Two of the thechangingpalette and very much hope that you will continue to join me on my journey. With best wishes…Andrew
These misty images for Ailsa’s Weekly Travel Theme are from our trek to Machu Picchu in June last year. They seem to be the perfect complement to my submission to this week’s Photo Challenge: Threshold.
The six day trek with Mountain Lodges of Peru along the Salkantay Trail to reach Machu Picchu was filled with moments of great beauty, triumph and exhaustion all experienced each day in the ever-changing magnificent Peruvian landscape seen so hauntingly in these misty mountain scenes and reflections in the turquoise water of Lake Humantay.
If you would like to see more of our journey I invite you to follow our trek day by day by visiting the early posts on my blog last June. Happy Trekking 🙂
The threshold of Machu Picchu’s Royal Tomb
…Drum roll please! We made it; and what a day it has been. Up at 4:30, breakfast at 5:00; on the bus and up the hairpin road to Machu Picchu entering the site by 6:30, just before the sun came up.
It is hard to put into words the impact, the drama and the beauty of this archeological wonder, but I’ll try. It really has to be seen to be believed. All the photographs, films and travelogues cannot really replace the experience of stepping into this other world and feeling nothing but total awe at what was achieved by a remarkable civilization hundreds of years ago. They were architects, astronomers, builders, masons, priests and artists of the most sophisticated kind and what they achieved here is quite simply awe-inspiring.
As each new marvel revealed itself around every corner all one could think of was, “How did they do it?” How did they move those massive stones; how could they be so precise so that not even an eyelash could pass between them? As you will see this final day of our trek was a spectacular climax to a never-to-be-forgotten journey of a lifetime. Hopefully the pictures will do justice to our experience and tell the story of the day so that you are able to share it with us: the sunrise striking WaynaPicchu; the Incan terraces rising to incredible heights above us; the shadows of the tombs; the llamas strolling between the ruins; our exhausting climb to the top of WaynaPicchu in the morning and the long, long hike to Intipunku, the Sun Gate, in the afternoon.
Our guide for the morning, Fernando, set the scene for the first two hours telling us the story of Machu Picchu in archeological terms but after that we were on our own and able to explore in our own time and at our own pace. Because we were staying an extra night we had to say goodbye to the wonderful members of our group who returned to Aguas Calientes for lunch in the middle of the day. I will acknowledge them all at the end of the blog because each one them helped to make the week so very special for us. After we had finally reached the Sun Gate around 4:00 pm we headed all the way back down to the entrance, exhausted, exhilarated and very grateful to have had the privilege of being able to spend a day in this wonder of the world.
Enjoy the pictures and I will return with some final thoughts and words of thanks to complete the story…
…Happy Father’s Day! (Although I know when you’re reading this it will be long gone). An early start at 6:30 for a somewhat unexpected uphill trek for three hours towards the Llactapata Pass at 8,974 feet. Hilde and I left with Carlos together with Blanca and Karla to whom we have become very attached. They both work in the office for Mountain Lodges and have been with us since the beginning. They have hiked with Hilde and myself most days and on this special Sunday I have become their surrogate father for Father’s Day. They have certainly have made the trip that extra bit special and we shall miss them when we go home. The hike started in the shade but as we reached the summit the sun magically lit up the landscape and illuminated a parrot sitting high in the trees enjoying the view of the valley far below. The rest of the group, which left at 7, caught up with us before we reached the Llactapata ruins where we had our first view of Machu Picchu in the distance. I think we all had goose bumps realizing the goal of the last five days was in sight; it was a great moment. On the grass in front of the ruins, with Machu Picchu in the distance, Pepe finished his history of the Incas and described how Hiram Bingham made his remarkable discovery. I had a lovely surprise during his talk when my cell phone suddenly chimed with text messages from Natalia, Alex and Adelyn wishing me Happy Father’s Day; a moment not to be forgotten. After we had all taken our photos we continued downhill stopping for a hot lunch at the observatory before continuing on to the Hydroelectric train station. The descent was long, steep, hot and very slippery but experts as we now are!! we reached the valley floor, crossed a suspension bridge, and made it in good time to catch the train to Aguas Calientes, our final destination at the foot of Machu Picchu. Before the train left we said our goodbyes to Carlos and I presented him with my Black Diamond hiking poles as a way of expressing my heartfelt thanks for his helping me survive the week. The train journey was brief but sitting even for an hour in the rather glamorous vista car was a welcome relief. We arrived at our hotel, the Inkaterra Machu Picchu, which is quite wonderful with beautiful gardens to be explored. Pisco sours all round at six followed by dinner with Blanca and Karla. Then to bed for an early start in the morning at 4:45 to catch the bus to Machu Picchu. The countdown will soon be history…
…Another glorious day hiking from the Colpa Lodge to the Lucma Lodge at Lucmabamba situated at a very manageable 7000 feet. Before leaving Pepe took us on a tour of Colpa Lodge’s orchid garden, which was a great start to the day. The trek took us down the Santa Teresa River Valley with the sound of the river heard flowing below us. We passed through coffee plantations and banana and avocado orchards. The vegetation was lush and quite different from the vegetation we have been seeing for the past few days high in the mountains. After a picnic break we were met by a small van that took us to the beginning of the Llactapata Inca Trail, which is the original Inca Trail. It was then only a short thirty minute hike to Lucma Lodge. Once again we were greeted by the wonderful Mountain Lodges of Peru staff with cool cloths and cold fresh passion fruit drinks. I can still taste how refreshing it was as I write this. After a wonderful lunch it was Hilde’s highlight, the coffee plantation where the coffee beans were roasted, ground and filtered in front of us; can you smell that delicious aroma? No we didn’t ask for an Americano misto or a decaf latte, but we did buy two bags of beans to bring home to remind us of the day. In the evening we had our final dinner as a group as Carlos leaves us tomorrow. Words of thanks were expressed by all. We have become quite a family. Tomorrow will be our first sighting of Machu Picchu. Hard to believe that after months of anticipation and five days of at times exhausting hiking we’re almost there. I’m sure you’re as excited as we are…
…still no Internet but the blogging continues undaunted. Today could not have been more perfect; clear blue skies, warm sunshine, no rain, wind or hail! After battling the elements yesterday today was more than we could have hoped for. We left Wayra Lodge after breakfast and trekked downhill above the Salkantay River to arrive at the Colpa Lodge at Colpapampa in the afternoon, having descended from 12,812 feet to 9,414 feet. A picnic break mid-morning was interesting surrounded by the cast of animal farm! Throughout the hike our trail was lined by numerous exotic flowers as you can see. At Colpa Lodge we were welcomed and greeted with a Pachamanca lunch, which is a special Peruvian barbecue of lamb, chicken, beef, guinea pig, potatoes and beans. Once again the genuine warmth and grace of the staff has made us all feel very privileged to be in this beautiful country. Siesta time in the afternoon followed by a therapeutic jacuzzi under the stars, Pepe’s history of the Incas, dinner and bed. The highlight tomorrow for Hilde will be a visit to a coffee plantation where we will roast, grind, filter and drink fresh coffee – can’t wait. Hope you’ll join us…
thechangingpalette 