Machu Picchu

16 September 2003.

Machu Picchu is the most significant archeological ruins in South America. Today we found out why. It is truly stunning. We reached Machu Picchu after a 4 day walk along the Inca trail

Machu Picchu was mysteriously abandoned, possibly to stop the Spanish destroying it as they liked to do, before being rediscovered in 1911. Many theories are floating round as to its purpose and function.

A 4am rise and early breakfast means we can catch this 5am photo on the trail to the Sun gate at Machu Picchu.

The darkness lifted slowly and the clouds and mist lifted a little slower.

The mist would rise and fall over Machu Picchu in the morning adding to the eeriness of this great abandoned city.

Cheesy timer shot that was necessary after two punters with nice SLR cameras failed to take anything that resembled a decent photo of us in front of the ruins.... useless.

The temple of the 3 windows.

Our guide was particularly creative especially with his imagination. His hobbies including UFOs, conspiracy theories, and demonising the USA as the reason for all the ills in the world.

Apparently the rock Jason is a laying is a bed used for healing and is the reason people think Machu Picchu was a spiritual and physical health hospital.

What a bunch of arse! This is a big rock that was too big to bloody move. It is the most uncomfortable thing Jason ever laid on. ( Jason has been reading too many Inca history books and thinks he can do a better job).

He asked our guide who shot JFK and then left him in the food tent talking to himself for hours as he wasn't sure if it was Madonna or aliens.

Machu Picchu is an amazing place and it does feel quite spiritually powerful but you can draw your own conclusions as to whether or not the hundreds of women found there with venereal diseases were Virgins!
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