MY trip

downwithpants · Post by **downwithpants** » Sun May 13, 2007 11:47 pm

April 24
i'm at the bottom of the descent, the campsite behind me, and tall waterfalls behind that.

there was a lot of fog coming from the bottom of the valley too. it was like a train of clouds chuggin up the side of the mountain.

a watchtower, not particularly effective in the fog

moar stairs to climb. /grumble

downwithpants · Post by **downwithpants** » Sun May 13, 2007 11:48 pm

there were some nifty flowers on this rock face.

runkuraqay ruins. an incan military post. i donno how the spanish conquered it, only because it'd be hell to climb up here in plated armor.

i started glowing after drinking the local water...

fog makes a good backdrop.

downwithpants · Post by **downwithpants** » Sun May 13, 2007 11:48 pm

a rainbow! we're getting close to machu picchu!

...to be continued

downwithpants · Post by **downwithpants** » Tue May 15, 2007 10:47 pm

April 25
the day we all've been waiting for. machu picchu day!

we rose at 4am in order to reach the sun's gate (landmark where machu picchu first becomes visible on the Inca trail) by sunrise.

at sun's gate:
the sun's beginning to hit our destined site

we were happy bedheads

machu picchu again, from slightly closer

downwithpants · Post by **downwithpants** » Wed May 16, 2007 12:26 am

our furry friend again, happily munching

we've reached machu picchu!
looking back at the path we've taken down from the sun gate:

downwithpants · Post by **downwithpants** » Wed May 16, 2007 12:27 am

a guard house sits at the top of the terraces

part of the incan plumbing system, to irrigate water from the mountain through the city.

a room where tombs where buried. a stone with 3 steps carved into it represents the 3 stages of life and afterlife - the earth, the heavens, and the underworld. but instead of going to heaven or hell after you die, you reincarnate into the following stage sequentially and it cycles. (so earth, heaven, underworld, earth, heaven, underworld, etc.)

more perfectly fitted stones

more examples of trapezoids in incan architecture

downwithpants · Post by **downwithpants** » Wed May 16, 2007 12:27 am

part of a stone quarry in machu picchu

the ladies taking a break

downwithpants · Post by **downwithpants** » Wed May 16, 2007 12:28 am

downwithpants · Post by **downwithpants** » Wed May 16, 2007 12:57 am

one of my favorite pics. a husband and wife enjoy the view. you can't see from this resolution, but they are also sharing earbuds.

downwithpants · Post by **downwithpants** » Wed May 16, 2007 12:57 am

AND NOW TIME FOR TEH LLAMAS!

BABY LLAMA

HAI GUYS