Macchupichu

Macchupichu... what can i say except that the hike through the Andes ultimately ending at Macchupichu was more intense than i could have ever imagined. we started the trip in Cuzco and stopped at several Incan ruins along the way. it is hard to describe just how powerful being in these ancient cities and places of worship really was. there is something unique about standing with your feet firmly planted on the ground, breathing in the crisp mountain air, and seeing a civilization's remains romantically intertwined with the mountain range. i dont think that i could ever tire of such sights.

i digress...

the wonderful bus ride ended in a remote Quechua village high in the Andes where we camped the first night. in the morning we gave our chocolate milk and bread to the community in celebration of Christmas. one funny thing to note is that as we were driving to the village, we noticed that there was an unusual number of children just standing by the roadside...and they seemed to wave and cheer at us almost as though we were local heroes. so we just gladly waved back completely clueless. later we found out that at Christmas time people from Cuzco will drive out and give the children who live in the mountains gifts of candy and clothes...ooops.

after the hot chocolate and bread was given out, we started our ascent. if anyone is into hiking, you HAVE to do this hike! it's not too too difficult for the most part, but it is simply heaven on earth. book through Andean Travel, as far as i know they are the only local tour company who does this 'trail' and are very involved in community projects to help the villages along the way have greenhouses and school supplies.

there are too many memories to talk about here from that hike, but some of the highlights are the interactions with the locals...on one of the days we were going through a valley with an amazing waterfall, and at the top of it were a few locals. the children ran down the mountain to greet us shyly by playing in the nearby grass, and the women at the top started a game of copy-cat dance moves with us...one of them kept falling down pretending she was dead...it was hilarious!

this is a picture from the day we hiked for about 9hours...this is taken from the highest summit we reached...4800m!! it was pretty cold there, but then only 100m down it got warm enough for us to sweat in t-shirts. the scenery on the other side of the mountain was also intense. it went from rocky landscapes to lush green paradise.

this is where we camped out on our last night of the hike...need i say more?

this is the one and only Macchupichu. this picture is taken from higher up where they did farming. so a brief history of Macchupichu is that it was only 'discovered' in 1911 when a scholar was searching for the lost city of the Incas. when the Incas were hiding from the Spanish, they retreated into the Amazon... not this city was not the famous lost city, but it was believed to be a very important place and probably at the centre of trade for the Incas through the Amazon. it took so long to discover it because of it's location it was surrounded by rivers and was hidden underneath overgrowth at the top of a mountain.

despite the fact that this was not the true lost city, and that it is now alive with tourists, its splendor is indescribable. the pictures here do nothing to do it justice (lovely as they are - no offence Calum!!). as i walked around the ruins, which were far larger than i ever thought, i couldnt help but be taken over with the feeling that the previous inhabitants are very much so still alive. because of the time of year that we were there, and the fact that the rain rolled in, most of the tourists left at about 12pm. this allowed me time and space to stand or sit and take it all in. just thinking about it now i am filled with a feeling that is simultaneously tranquil yet blustering with excitement.

Calum and i decided to climb the mountain Wayaupichu (spelling?) that you can see towering behind the ruins. it was a steep climb up a million and one steps, but since the altitude was only about 2500m, it seemed easier by comparison to what we had been used to. part way through it started to pour. i put my poncho over my bag, but continued so that i could feel the cool rain as it drenched through my clothes.

getting to the top was challenging, but enjoyable! the rocks became more narrow as we neared the top, and at the ruins there were several caves that we had to humorously squeeze through...Calum is 6'2 and with the backpack on it was just plain old ridiculous to watch. good times.

before i get to the summit, i need to tell you something. the local people believe that when you are going on a long journey, you need to pick up rocks that are the size of your burdens... then when you reach the last summit of your journey, you pile them up and leave them behind. as you probably know, i pick up rocks all the time, so for me this was easy! i had rocks that i had been carrying with me from the Amazon in Ecuador! i added a few larger ones when we started our hike through the Andes.

after a while we reached the summit which consisted of large beautiful pointy rocks. by this time the clouds blew past and the view of Macchupichu was spectacular. at the top of one of this peak, i placed my rocks and left those concerns and worries behind me. from the top we also had a sparrow and a hawk flying around us...unbelievable.

this is a picture taken from the top of another mountain.

all in all, it was the best experience i have ever had in nature... and at the end of it i was left feeling happily exhausted. then came a series of plane rides ultimately ending in Buenos Aires, Argentina. new years there was a great extension to the hike. long story short, i watched the sunrise on the harbour feeling as though the future is full of amazing potential...that great things are in store for this world. in the last few years with the death of my mom and everything else that my family has gone through, without realizing it, i have been feeling like the past is something painful that was binding me to being a person i could no longer be. but as i watched the orange, pink and purple clouds dance over the beep blue backdrop, i felt in my heart of hearts that the past is a gift. without experiencing everything that i have gone through, i would not be the person that i am today and i wouldn't be here. here and now. what greater gift is there than living a life that you are excited to live?

...

i have to run so that i can catch a bus to San Martin de los Andes...it is further south near Patagonia and i can't wait to be there! Playalina and i are planning on renting a car for a daytrip around the lakes, doing some hiking, and getting pedicures!! hehee...yeah, we like to hike and all that jazz...but can't girls also have pretty feet while they do it?!

i send all of my love to you out there in the world. i will be home SOON - Jan 25 - Feb 6...planning on getting together for dinner and drinks somewhere downtown. if you have any ideas, please email me and let me know!! otherwise, i will see you in sept!

lots of love!!

adrienne ;)

ps - all these pics are lifted off Calum´s website...i didnt have a digital camera...arent they lovely?!