Jenni lands on Machu Picchu Peak with just enough energy to show off a little.
Is it possible to have multi-favorites? Yes? Then this would be one of them.
At the peak of Machu Picchu Mountain, we peer down into a corner of Aguas Calientes.
When hiking under pressure, for example, up the sharp incline to Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes following
David, a guide who holds somewhat of a record for this climb, one’s mind tends to wonder. What do we mean by
this? Imagine you’re the Inca King and you have come for your annual visit to Machu Picchu. The priests are
awaiting your arrival as well as the other citizens and slaves. Of course, because you are the king, the slave
class is carrying you up the 1,400 feet hill. Trying to keep up with the fit group of bearers is a little guy
called, for purposes of this scenario, Brutus.
Brutus is trying to maintain the pace but he’s tiring and wet from both perspiration and rain. The heroes upfront
are out to impress their king so they continue to race ahead. In order to lessen the strain, Brutus takes his mind
off the struggle and thinks about food take-outs in the 13th century. Imagine a bunch of fellows lounging on the
rocks in the city chatting and then asking, ‘who feels like a pizza tonight?’ Knowing there are no ovens in the
city, they decide to send out to Aguas Calientes, the town down the hill holding the franchise from Julius CC’s.
They contact a messenger service, Step Express, which sends out a runner. He takes the order note and runs down
the steps and then on towards the town. He orders the pizza and returns, probably two hours later. What would you
charge for the pizza? Brutus gets his mind around the problem. Let’s say 3 shekels for the food and, if he were the
messenger, 2,000 shekels for delivery. That is one way of dealing with the strain of moving up those tough steps.
Note the precision of the wall construction, without mortar. Higher quality than the placement
of blocks in other areas as it is considered a more religious part of town.
Room with a view. Note the less polished stone finish, apparently not a religious style structure.
For those with bus fare, the route to Machu Picchu, else vertical steps upwards.
Truth be told, that’s what we thought about, taking forty-six minutes to reach the top. By that time,
we were perspiring profusely and as the editor mentioned in passing, smelling strongly, too. From there,
David guided the four of us which included Christina and Stephane, about the ruins. Gary Frank lent us a
book covering Hiram Bingham’s historic expedition of 1911 to find Machu Picchu. It is interesting to read
and listen to the various views of history as much is conjecture. There are no written historical records
to follow, so historians and archeologists have tried to piece together the era in other ways. We are quite
sure, however, that people ate pizza at the local restaurant rather than ordered-in. Who could afford the
delivery charges?
The hydro-electric plant and town at bottom-left of Machu Picchu.
Editor on one of thousands of steps climbing 2,000 feet from the ruins.
Standing on the edge, perhaps a broomstick would be better than a hiking pole.
The educational tour lasted nearly two hours and covered quite a lot of ground (ruins) including climbing
within the buildings. Following the tour, we bid David and the others farewell, headed for a corner where
we breakfasted on stale peanut-butter bagels and then collapsed. At that stage, we had planned on climbing to
the peak of Machu Picchu Mountain. The idea was beginning to seem like a pipedream. The thought of taking
the bus down to the town began to look very attractive. We were facing a very steep set of steps rising to
the peak some 2,000 feet above, returning to the ruins, down to the exit and then 1,400 feet further down
even steeper steps, followed by a thirty-minute walk to collect our baggage in the town, take a train to
Ollytaytambo and from there, a taxi to Cusco, about a three-and-half hour journey.
After our editor had coaxed us from a tantrum, wiped our eyes and nose, we put on a brave face and set off
to face one of the toughest continuing challenges. Admittedly, we had lost some of our fitness through poor
health. A nice excuse but it was not going to do us much good. After walking up some 300 feet, we arrived at
the beginning of the stair-trail to the peak. Under the circumstances, we have to admit it was tough. However,
we would do it again as it was a superb experience. To give you an idea of camaraderie, we believe this is a
good story.
From the terrace: Inca's held weddings, bar mitzvahs and perhaps, sacrifices or barbeques in the gardens.
Within twenty-minutes of the peak, Jenni felt weak and said she would remain in position or try move up slowly.
Soon thereafter, two men of seventy arrived at her rest spot. After hearing their South African accents, she
entered into conversation with them. She then decided to brave the last part of the climb to the peak. At the top,
two of their ‘younger’ friends arrived where we enjoyed some camaraderie together. ‘Vrystaat’! Jenni mentioned
that they had spurred her onwards. They in turn replied that when they saw her resume the struggle, they too had
a change of heart. The idea of people encouraging, helping and supporting each other is most uplifting. It begs
the question why we seem to focus on the bizarre, the bad and unhappy events when there is so much good in the
world. The real heroes and decent people are mostly unknown and yet, there are so many out there.
A view of Machu Picchu from the peak.
In weather such as this, one would imagine they'd keep the doors and windows shut.
The position at the top and views therefrom were exciting and bold. With the chill factor rising, we made our way
down again. We met a number of nationalities at the peak including a young New Yorker who did not have much good
to say about Californian dudes. We were nearly insulted until we realized we might not fit that category.
However, we might be wrong in which case we will then be insulted, too.
Culmination of a wonderful week even though it was partly in 'ruins'.
Having reached the ruined city, we looked at the bus queue and the area about the entrance. It was a circus.
Most of the day we had been on our own, or at times, with only a few people close by. Suddenly, it seemed we
had been transported to Disneyland. Without wishing to sound like snobs, the atmosphere changed dramatically.
We rested, had a drink and then decided to make our way down by foot, which took another 80 minutes, including
the stretch to the town. Thereafter, it was a major schlep to get back to the apartment. We took a train
and mini-bus to cross a relatively short distance but over rough country. We arrived home at 11:15pm after a
tough but rewarding day which began before four that morning. Jenni wondered why she was still tired two days later.
Farewell from Machu Picchu, soaked but most content.
That about wraps up the trek, an experience we won’t forget.
Cheers,
Jenni and Jeffrey
Although ruins, they will remain long after we have all passed...hmm!
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