Hi all, 1 June 2006
Sorry for the long time since my last blog. There was just not enough time in
between getting back from the 4 day Inca Trail trip and moving on to the Amazon
to get on the Net and write.
What a amazing week, I don't know where to start.
On May 25th, I started the 4 day Inca Trail Trek, ending in a sunrise approach
to the incredible Inca Sanctuary of Machu Picchu. The trail was about 60km,
done in 4 days. Just a light day pack, because the porters do everything. They
are amazing, they each carry over 52 pounds, with sandles made from tires, and
hustle ahead of you. The camp is set when you get there. We had a small group
of 4 of us and a terrific guide. I did pretty well, the toughest day was
coming down 3000 feet of stone steps! and they don't use switchbacks here, its
all steep.
The "Inca Trail" that is walked today, is only a very small part of a huge
network of trails the Incas created back in 1400. There was over 40,000 Km of
trails from Columbia in the north all the way down to Bolivia in the South.
But then the morning sunrise in Machu Picchu on the last day. It was spiritual.
Amazing place. The stone structures, with edges fitting so tight, you can't
put your fingernail in the gap between huge stones..and no morter. And
accoustics that astound you. Echo accoustics that allow one to hear someone
else whisper 100 m away. And large stones carved with astronomical
significance. It was all mind boggling and a wonderful experience.
Many more stories to tell. On Monday the 29th I left for the Amazon. I'll
report that next.
Yours in Travel
Bill
