Machu Picchu, Peru

Such a magical place to explore with the dearest of friends. 

Our South American group of four picked up Sherry Lee in Cusco, and the five of us made our way to Ollantaytambo, Peru. Ollantaytambo is the cutest little Incan village, and it would be our home base while we travelled to Machu Picchu. The town was alive with tourists and locals, and we saw the first day of school ceremonies, where students and teachers paraded through the streets. I think we should have a big parade at HSC on the first day of school next year! The roads were made of cobblestones and decorated with pom pom archways. There was even a human traffic light to direct traffic through a very narrow passage. Beautiful aqueducts ran through the town, supplying water to the businesses and locals.

Ollayantambo

First day of school celebrations.

 We were excited to be visiting another one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. My students, Chloe and Ayla, had researched Peru and highly recommended a visit to Machu Picchu. It was on my bucket list for sure! We took the Peru Rail train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (hot water). We visited the natural hot springs in Aguas Calientes, which the town was named after, and we even dined on alpaca. The food has been spectacular in Peru. The train trip was beautiful, passing through mountains, over rivers and through small towns and valleys. We were served quinoa snacks, which is a staple ingredient here and enjoyed the mountain view through the vistadome overhead. The bus trip up to Machu Picchu, on the other hand, was crazy! We climbed switchbacks where the front of the bus overhung cliffs, going around the corners, and the road had no guardrails. Sherry Lee sat up front with the driver on one trip and couldn’t believe her eyes. She had a whole new appreciation for the drivers by the time we reached our destination.

Avocado trees, schools and the hike up to the hot springs.

The train, Aguas Calientes and some of our meals, yum yum!

The bus ride up...there was a guard rail on the bridge, thank goodness!

Machu Picchu was incredible. It is a once-in-a-lifetime destination for some, and we were lucky enough to visit it two days in a row. Since it was the rainy season, we booked two days to increase our chances of clear views. We got lucky, and both days were spectacular. The views from above were stunning. On our first day, we hired a guide to share facts and history about the ruins, and on the second day, we were on our own to explore. We walked through the fortified town and took pictures with the llamas, who appeared to be posing for photos. They didn’t look real. The stone construction was unbelievable; it was hard to imagine how the Incas carved and moved the stone over miles to build walls where the smooth rocks fit together like puzzles.

Stunning...

Just three Chatsworth gals getting rad with the llamas!

After two spectacular days in Machu Picchu, we ran to catch the train back to Ollantaytambo. We had been enjoying another spectacular dinner and barely made it; I think we were the last ones to board the train. Once back in Ollyantaytambo, we travelled around the Sacred Valley learning about textiles and shopping. We hiked through more ruins where royalty and researchers had once lived. We visited the salt mines and Little Mark, and Sherry Lee even went zip-lining! We hiked through the countryside with spectacular views of the town. We saw so many cacti and even tried the prickly pears, the fruit that grows on the top of the cactus.

Exploring the Sacred Valley

It is hard to put a visit to Machu Picchu into words. The site itself is spectacular, but to visit it with dear friends made the experience even more special. Who would have thought that three childhood friends from Chatsworth would end up in South America together? Ayla and Chloe, thank you for sharing your research on Machu Picchu and for helping us prepare for our trip. Sharon, Little Mark and Sherry Lee, thank you for being a special part of these magical memories with us.