Machu Pichu and the Sacred Valley with Grandpa Dan
In early October, Grandpa Dan came to visit us and we embarked on a tour of Cusco and the Sacred Valley. The day after arriving and adjusting to the altitude, we were whisked off to see the sites of Moras (a terraced Incan agricultural lab), Moray (an Incan salt factory that is still in operation), and the massive fortress of Ollantaytambo which served as a crucial place of resistance against the Spanish conquest. That evening we caught the train to Aguas Calientes, the staging area of Machu Picchu. Early the next morning, we met our guide at the entrance to Machu Picchu and began our ascent. As we climbed the stairs, we could see glimpses of the ruins between trees. When we arrived at the top of the overlook, there was one of the 7 Wonders, swathed in clouds and looking both completely organic and otherworldly. Machu Picchu is magical because its incredible architecture is enhanced by its location, hidden between mist-shrouded mountains. It began to rain as we descended fr...
