Day 4 - Let the Ruins Begin

So many steps. The Incas must have been the most fit civilization in history. I think I know why they call them ruins...because anyone who walks them is left in ruins.  The high altitude just added to the challenge. And this was just the warm up...Machu Picchu, the biggest and most challenging Incan ruin is still to come. 

Despite the consistent gasps for breath all day on Wednesday, the sites and views were magnificent and worth the effort. 

A view of the Sacred Valley with the Urubamba River, which runs through the entire valley including around Machu Picchu mountain.

The group of 20 or so taking today's tour left Cusco around 8:30am. Well, most of the group left at 8:30. The two of us and our new French friend Valerie were originally left off the list.  Once the organizers figured out what happened, we had to run through town to chase down the bus. 

Once on the bus we visited numerous places - ruins, towns, markets, etc. - and I'll let the photos do the talking.

Our first stop was the small craftsman town of Pisac. It was nestled in the Sacred Valley with the massive mountain on one side and the Urubamba River on the other.

Alpaca fur is a hot commodity all over Peru and it's available on just about every street corner and market stall. As a new resident of a cold weather city, I figured I should stalk up on winter attire.

Greg was also stocking up on winter gear, but he opted for a Despicable Me Minion beanie that also matched the colors of his shirt.

While in Pisaq we stumbled upon an empanada guy - not a restaurant or cafe - just a dude and his son with a real-deal wood-fired oven and massive spatula making tasty cheese and onion empanadas. 

Fresh empanada dough waiting to be tossed into the oven.

Now that the tasty empanadas have wet your appetite, have you heard of cuy? It's Spanish for roasted guinea pig and it's a popular Peruvian dish that we've been wanting to try. Greg and I were on board until we saw this...real live adorable guinea pigs that looked like the pets we grew up with. This "guinea pig den" was all of seven feet from a massive oven giving us the impression that these little guys' time was limited.

Pisac is one of the most well preserved Incan ruins in the area. It served as an Incan military post and grew into a ceremonial and residential center. 

Incans used the circular terrace style design to grow crops and other agriculture on steep hillsides.

Awwww...

Another stop we made was at Ollantaytambo, a living Incan town with locals continuing ancient traditions such as their farming methods. People have lived in this town since the 13th century.

Greg doing his best Rocky Balboa impression after climbing the many steps of the Araqama Ayllu fortress in Ollantaytambo.

The Ollyantaytambo ruins is one of the finest examples of Incan stonework and shows that they were masters of architecture, especially building within the confines of the mountainous environment. Look closer and you can see Greg at the top of the fortress.

Matt taking a traditional Incan shower.

Llamas or Alpacas? We still can't figure out the difference, but both are very prevalent in the Sacred Valley.

The BMW wasn't cutting it, so Greg picked up a tricked out tuck-tuck, the real Ultimate Driving Machine.

The all-day tour wrapped up in Ollantaytambo at 4pm. We then jumped onto the Inca Rail train to Aguas Calientes, the small town at the bottom of Machu Picchu mountain. The two-hour train ride was by far one of the most scenic train rides we've ever taken. On one side of the tracks was a rushing river and on the other was beautiful mountains with endless green wilderness. It almost felt like Disneyland's The Jungle Ride. Only if the conductor came on the loud speaker and said, "Remain seated please; permanecer sentados por favor."

Our chariot to Machu Picchu.

All aboard!

Sites from the train. 

The Inca Rail train ran along side the Urubamba River.

The train tracks ran along the Sacred Valley floor.

More scenic views from the Inca Rail train.

We pulled into Aguas Calientes around 6:30pm just after sunset. The entire city is about one square mile, so it was easy to find our hostel. We settled in and got ready for dinner.

With such an exhausting day and an early start on Thursday, we decided to keep the night time mellow. We grabbed a quick bite and a digestif with a few new friends from today's tour and called it a night.

The plaza in Aguas Calientes welcomes visitors with statues of Incan chiefs and warriors.

The Urubamba River ran right through town with massive mountains on either side.

The hostels, restaurants, cafes, etc. of Aguas Calientes were all built into the side of the cliffs.

Aguas Calientes is a tiny town with the Inca Rail tracks acting as the main "street." The tracks were lined with cafes, restaurants, and hostels.

Tomorrow is plain and simple...all day at Machu Picchu trekking around its peaks, vistas, and sister mountains. It should be a good one.

Oh, also, Greg and I have both managed to avoid altitude sickness. We've had lots of water, a few altitude pills and numerous cups of the coca tea that locals prescribe, which may or may not have leaves from the same plant that produces cocaine.