Machu Picchu

On our way up!

​The Lost City of the Incas, which really wasn’t so lost back when it was “found” in 1911, is the reason we planned our trip to Peru. By the time we got there, I was still excited to visit the site, but our upcoming shamanic retreat held my attention. More to come on that in a separate post.

While Matt's altitude sickness went away at Machu Picchu's elevation of 7,970 feet above sea level, mine only took a partial rest. My heart palpitations almost knocked my sunglasses off my chest in the pose on the left. Also, I'm pretty sure it was my overworked heart that caused me to lose my balance and almost tip over a stone stair (not my incredibly heavy backpack and innate clumsiness). Thankfully, Matt and our guide Paul were ahead of me and didn't notice the danger. I'd rather keep my dignity than have a helping hand or a chastising husband to remind me to watch my footing.

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Incredibly steep stairs that I may or may not have stumbled upon

I'm a sucker for a window view

Breathtaking was the word of the day

​I have a plethora of pictures that all seem to show the same lush and terraced mountain, but from slightly different angles. In an effort to spare you from my photo album, I’ve narrowed my selection down to 23, and further into sections that contain Matt and me (for family who care to see us in epic poses) and into shots that are just gorgeous scenery that can never be found in North Carolina. 

Huayna Picchu is in the background

Even intrepid explorers need to sit at times

Another angle

My handsome husband

This pic was towards the end of the hike, when the temperature cooled off

I love my goof!

Our obligatory selfie

The terraces were used to grow food when Machu Picchu was the estate of the Inca emperor Pachacuti

The weather couldn't have been more perfect

This view is one of my faves

More green terraces

Amazing vista from above

Matt meditated for quite some time after our official tour ended. However, a couple of amorous llamas forced him to move to a safer and less frisky space.

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The Incan cosmology is one of duality. Here is my experience of that concept at the sacred site of Machu Picchu.

Caterpillar turns into...

beautiful butterfly.

Amorous llama turns into...

llama mama.

One final shot showing the clouds that moved in at the end of our time on this awe-inspiring mountain. We experienced a light sprinkling of raindrops and incredible thunder that shook our eardrums.