Travel. Overseas. The secrets of Machu Picchu

The Secrets of Machu Picchu.

Included in a most wonderful holiday in South America was a historical journey to Machu Picchu, the lost city of the Incas .The old city of Cuzco in Peru was my base with it’s amazing examples of stone work used in the foundations by the Incas. Over the centuries the city suffered many severe earthquakes and new cities were built onto the solid stone bases, which are set together as if manufactured by high tech. machinery. Modern day Cuzco is still using the original foundation for its cities hotels, shops, churches and office buildings. Situated at about 3,500 mts. above sea level breathing is difficult which makes you walk slowly.
I took an early morning train to view the wonders of Machu Picchu, through some very steep terrane climbing a further 2000 mts. into the Andes from the Urubamba Valley there were times when the inclines were so steep the train needed to zigzag back and forth to negotiate sharp bends. On arrival at the Ruins there was a short steep bus trip to the most fantastic city ruins I have ever seen. Machu Picchu was not discovered till 1911 and had been hidden from the world for over four centuries. It has been suggested that the city was built by hauling each carved block of approximately 30 tonnes each up from the valley below and placed together whith such perfection that there was little signs of joins, no mortar was used.
The ruined city is a wonderful setting for some great photography, houses set among the curves of the landscape, the remains of temples and farm buildings set among the backdrop of higher mountain peaks. A question that seem to be asked each tourist by the guides was your opinion as to how the stone slabs were brought up without the means of wheels, my suggestion was that maybe it was carried up as a powder, moulded into huge blocks with a type of cement, I don’t think this answer was the right one.
The sight of this wonder of the world will always remain with me as a place I have been so fortunate to visit and recommend anyone who is interested in history not to miss out on this wonderful experience, whether it be travelling by the luxury of a train or hiking along the old Inca Trail it is worth the effort, it is listed on top of my travels around the world.