It is early fall here in Peru, and that means it's still the rainy season (winter - July-August - is the dry season). We did get rain, but also mist and sunshine. The sky and clouds were constantly changing, at times completely obscuring the ruins or mountains. But then you would look again and it had all changed once more.
Because Steven and I arrived in Aguas Calientes (the village below Machu Picchu) the night before our visit we were able to 1. enjoy the local hot springs (where you can order pisco sours from the hot baths) and 2. get to Machu Picchu in the early morning. Arriving at the ruins early meant that we were able to climb Huayna Picchu, which is a big tall mountain next to the Machu Picchu mountain. The number of visitors allowed to go up Huayna Picchu each day is restricted, so you do have to get there before mid-morning. The climb is steep and vertiginous. But the views of Machu Picchu are magnificent, and when you reach the top there is an added suprise - yet another set of hidden ruins.
Machu Picchu gaurdhouse, agricultural sector
View of Machu Picchu from Huayna Picchu
View out two of the windows of the Temple of Three Windows
Climbing Huayna Picchu
Afternoon rain, and the ruins began to disappear.
These are views of Ollantaytambo, which lies in the Sacred Valley and features an Inca fortress, other Inca ruins, and Inca walls throughout the cobblestoned village.
The sign reads, Multiservicios Valeria. My new side business.
We hiked up the mountain on the opposite side of the village from the Ollantaytambo ruins to another set of ruins perched on a steep hillside. The vistas were magnificent.
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