Sunday, June 3, 2012

And finally...Machu Picchu!!




Hey, look!  We made it Machu Picchu!


 Sooo early!  We were on the first buses on the mountain!

 The plaque for Hiram Bingham- he "discovered" the ruins.

 Good morning Machu Picchu!
 After lots of walking (okay, like 5 minutes after the entrance), we found Machu Picchu!

 Alpaca/ llamas (could never tell the difference... :o)

 In love with the mountains!

 And the sun!

 Love.

 Lunch time!

 Sandwiches we bought while waiting for the buses.
 Why yes, that is my CES Institute shirt from University of Texas!  :o)

 Talking to our parents on our Peruvian cell phone.

 "Why yes, Mom, it does get really good reception!"


Quote of the day: "What are men to rocks and mountains?"


 Besties!



 So, we went on a hike to find an Incan Bridge.  Savannah loved the heights!

I was slightly terrified and couldn't look off the cliff... :o)
 
And that was the bridge... not quite what we expected... :o)

Epic poses!



 Nap time at Machu Picchu!  Because, yes, we did spend all day there!




Our favorite picture!  Taken as we were walking out.

What an experience!  I loved the ruins and experiencing that part of history!  But what really surprised me were the Andes mountains.  Wow!  That was just breathtaking!  Machu Picchu looks down into a deep valley, which seems to go on forever.  But then you look up, and the neighboring mountains keep going up!  In the morning, it's as if you're in the clouds on Machu Picchu.  Then the clouds rise, it gets warm (even in the winter), and you realize how close you are to the sun!  

I have never felt so small.  And yet, still so loved by a God above.  How amazing that He created those mountains.  That He loved and guided the people that built Machu Picchu, so so so far away from other communities of their time, high up in the mountains.  And today, He still loves and watches over His children.  And He watches over me.  I truly stand all amazed!

Sunday, April 22, 2012

From Cusco to Aguas Calientas!

To get from Cusco to Aguas Calientas, we first took a Combi van (only a little sketchy...) to Ollantaytambo. 

 
We had the best views!

Including Savannah sleeping...

At Ollantaytambo!

It was SO pretty!  So fresh and clean smelling!

 
We got drinks while we waited for the train to Aguas Calientas.

I may have had a thing for cool lamps... :o)

And rustic decor...

 
 Our train! 

 
So exciting!

Turns out, it wasn't our train... so still waiting...

Outside a Japanese shop

 
Okay, this is our train, for real!

 
Welcome signs to Machu Picchu!

 
So so so blue!

 
And so green!

 
The train followed a river!

 
Fancy/ delicious snacks on the train ride!  I apparently bought the fancy tickets with food included...

 
Besties!  With fancy train treats!

 
View from the train window- with cool train reflection!

 
Our Peruvian high school (or middle school?) boyfriends.  They were hilarious!

 
The moon!

 
Plaza de Armas in Aquas Calientas!

 
Posing with hot Peruvian statues!

 
Ooo la la!

 
Fun times with the Bestie!

 
Fancy dinner with fancy drinks!

 
Being weird with a spoon (i.e. not good at sexy pictures... :o)

 
Cool decorations!

 
Again with the lamp obsession... can I just take them home?!!

 
Delicious dinner!

 
Unique wall hanging thing... love it!

Next stop- Machu Picchu!!