Second day Machu Pichu

By Tina Lin – Guest blogger traveling in Peru.
Today, we had breakfast at 5am. It consisted of delicious ham, cheese and egg sandwich. We also had a choice between pineapple juice, orange juice and strawberry smoothie. We left our bags in storage in the hotel and took off to a bus that would take us up Machu Pichu. We went up to the Caretaker´s hut because you can get the best view of Machu Pichu from up there.
The sun did not rise until 7:14am, so the guide told us some history while we waited for the sunrise. He told us how Hiram Bingham was not the first one to discover Machu Pichu because the farmers nearby had known about these ruins for a long time. At that time, they still cultivated crops on the agricultural terraces of the mysterious city. They only cleared the agricultural section and left the other parts alone.
Originally, Bingham was set out to discover Vilcabamba (the last stronghold of Incan empire). According to the journal of a Spanish priest, under the Temple of the Sun at Vilcabamba, there would be a spring of water that fed 3 fountains. However, when Bingham checked under the natural white rock under the temple at Machu Pichu, he could not find a spring. People would confuse Machu Pichu with Vilcabamba for many years until Bingham discovered Vilcabamba years later. He was not impressed with Vilcabamba as much as he was with Machu Pichu because the Spaniards destroyed much of Vilcabamba. It is also only half the size of Machu Pichu.
He went back to United States to gather funding, then he came back to Machu Pichu to clear the site that was covered in the jungle. They did many excavations but they did not find the body of the King under the Temple of the Sun (this meant that he must have retreated to another site with all of his people). They did find the body of the queen in a rock perched high up in the cliff facing East by herself. She had a beautiful Manta (blanket) covering her. A dog and a marsupial also accompanied her. Many tombs were found at a nearby slope. The diseased were mummified in fetal position because they believed that the dead should depart in the same way they came into the world.
The condition of the tombs further proved that Machu Pichu was not completely unknown by the locals. This is because during Inca Empire, it is common practice to close the tombs with stone walls. However, most were found with walls already broken by tomb raiders.
After all the clearing in Machu Pichu, Bingham took all the findings back to the United States for exhibit in Yale University. There are debates about whether these findings should be returned to Cusco. After all, most of the items buried were offerings to Pachamama (mother earth).
Finally, we saw the sun rise above the mountains. It would light up the entire Machu Pichu with such brightness. I took many pictures of the panoramic view. This is when I regret not purchasing a digital camera. I cannot help but take more and more pictures. I want to remember the view of every different shade of light coming into Machu Pichu. After an hour of marveling how the sun illuminates the valley, our guide gave us the tour through different temples and quarters in Machu Pichu.
Basically, Machu Pichu has one side that was for quarters for the important general, king and priests. This side would be build with beautiful big stones of perfect alignment and precise cuts. The other side is living quarters for the soldiers and common people. It was built with smaller and uglier rocks. There are also large terraces along the cliffs for farming. Planting them higher and higher along the terraces would slowly acclimatize agricultural plants in lower altitude.
About the construction of Machu Pichu, we could learn how they cut the stones by observing some un-finished work at the granary. We can also observe how the builders had intentions to build more walls but got to complete such. These remains of unfinished work made this site even more endearing. It was a little imperfection in the city build with perfection. We were told that the construction of the city that we could see with our eyes were only 60 percent on the surface. Much of the construction was underground for foundation, filling and drainage system.
After our guided tour, we had 2 hours free time to wonder around Machu Pichu before we ate lunch. Some students went to hike Waynupichu, the smaller mountain nearby. I just re-traced the steps we walked by to experience again the peace I felt in each temple and quarters. I even encountered a llama by itself in a common room eating grass. I cannot help but to admire just how magical this place is. It brings out not just a feeling of admiration within me but also adoration. Later, we had lunch at the famous Sanctuary Hotel. It was right outside of the entrance into Machu Pichu. We had more time in the afternoon to shop at local vendors and relax. I bought three Cusquenean crosses. According to our guide, the cross will bring good luck.
We took the 4:15pm train back to Ollantaytambo, and then went on a bus back to Cusco. I went to bed early tonight. However, my stomach was not very happy all throughout the night.