Qenko - the labyrinth

Another Inca ruin - Qenko was a ceremonial cave like complex used for sacrifices. There is an altar inside the rock labyrinth.

Native people - with babies and animals

The colorful costumes and the sweet babies and animals are an irrestible draw for photographers! These shots were taken at the highest point above Cusco - over 13,000 feet near the Inca ruin of Tambomachy.

The old Inca city of Cusco is shaped like a Puma

The ancient city plan of Cusco is shaped like a Puma. Saqsayhuaman is the head and the Temple - Qoricancha is the tail. More native people with their animals. A full moon over my shoulder!

Saqsayhuaman - Inca Fortress

The Inca fortress/temple - Saqsayhuaman - located above Cusco - and the location for the Inti Raymi Festival. Some of the rocks used to build the fortress are huge - weighing up to 350 tons. The stones are perfectly aligned and fit together. There is a huge open plaza inside used for religious ceremony.

The fortress overlooks the city of Cusco.

Aguas Calientes

Darrell and I enjoyed a wonderful "Inca" massage - it was wonderful after all that climbing!! Pachacuti (Inca King)- awaits the full moon!

Plaza in Aguas Calientes

Plaza - Pachacuti - a statue of the Inca King, Children and pigeons, the church and the line for a ticket on the local train. There is a lot to see from the bench in the city plaza!

Pizza in Peru

We had pizza several times in Peru - we are in Aguas Calientes. The pizza is wonderful! Note the chef and the pizza oven - shaped like a kiln with a stove pipe!

Inca Draw Bridge

I took a side trail that leads to the Inca Drawbridge - This trail clung precariously to the side of the moutain with drops of several thousands feet. This trail would have been guarded to assure no entry to the city by unwanted travelers!

Sun Gate - Machu Picchu

Views from the Sun Gate - at 2720 meters altitude. We see porters carry loads for the hikers as they enter the Sun Gate. We also saw emergency medical people evacuating an injured hiker. He was carried on a stretcher that had curved ends to fit over the shoulders - then the hiker was carried down the trail. The emergency personnel switch off due to the extreme effort.

A view of the trail to the Sun Gate - somewhat shows the ascent we took - a little over an hour to hike up

View of Machu Pichu from Sun Gate

Elaine, Kathleen and Phyllis - hike part of the Inca Trail to the Sun Gate - a beautiful view of the entire Machu Picchu complex is worth the climb!! Through hikers on the Inca Trail - enter through the Sun Gate and see Machu Picchu for the first time!

Sunrise on Machu Picchu

Elaine, Kathleen Roberts and Phyllis Roberts take the 5:30 bus up then hike into Machu Picchu for sunrise! A magical experience - to see the rays of the sun stream into the valley - looks like the heavens open up! A group (dressed in all white) performs a ceremony at the Sun Temple.

We are at Machu Picchu on Winter Solstice - this is the Inca's New Year - a day of celebration. The Inca worship the sun - and on this solstice - the sun shines directly aligned into the Sun Temple!

Machu Picchu - Interior city

Walking through Inca built doorways along stone walkways in Machu Picchu. The room of the three sacred windows.

Machu Picchu - more

The scale of the sight is really amazing. Our group gathers at a vista over the city! Dave and Kathleen Roberts, Rick and Phyllis Roberts, Lanny Scholes, Darrell and Elaine!

Machu Picchu

The ruins of Machu Picchu spread out over the top of a mountain - the lost Inca City! Never found by the invading Spanish in the mid 1500's - the local people hid the trail - so the Spanish could not destroy the city. Hiram Bingham "found" the city while working on an expedition from Yale University. Much of the rainforest had "retaken" Machu Picchu. Archeaologists think a substantial part of Machu Picchu is still underground.

We are actually visiting Machu Picchu on June 21, 2010 - the Winter Solstice - the most important day for the Inca people. The sun directly aligns with the Sun Temple - only 1 time per year -- the sun shines directly through the window of the temple.

It is a magical place!!

Entering Machu Picchu

On June 21, 2010 - we enter the archeaology sight of Machu Picchu. Our guide - Valentin explains the ruins. Darrell heads up (pretty much straight up) to the entrance!

Upon first glimpse - we knew this was going to be something extraordinary to see!!