While posting our trip to Cambodia to my blog and seeing the ruins of the Khmer Rulers, it brought to mind the terrific trip we had in February 2006 to South America to see the wonders of that country, but especially Manchu Picchu. This is truly one of the most beautiful places in the world!
This trip was a 20-day cruise beginning in Buenos Aires and ending up in Lima, Peru. The trip to Manchu Picchu was a post-cruise trip. We spent the night in Lima and then the next day headed for Cusco the stepping off point for Manchu Picchu and a beautiful little town, actually not too little; population little more than 300,000. With its old churches and squares, it seemed like a small place, but a great place to just walk around and enjoy this beautiful old town.
Cusco is located about 11,000 feet above sea level and before we got there we were lectured over and over again about altitude sickness. I thought they were over doing the warnings, since in my younger days I have been in much higher places, including the Rockies and the mountains in Bavaria, Germany. But they were right! It wasn’t long after we got there that I had to sit down and relax a little! It might have to do with my age, you think?
There are many ways to get to Manchu Picchu from Cusco: bus, car, hiking, and train. The way to go is on the Orient Express “Hiram Bingham” train. Such comfort and luxury! It takes about three hours through some beautiful scenery. It was a slow trip but with the views and the food that they served, you wanted the trip to last longer.
As you can see from the picture above there isn’t much left this beautiful archeological site. But it is full of history and so beautiful. The picture, although nice, and one a lot of you have seen in many travel magazine, but this is one taken my me.
This trip was a 20-day cruise beginning in Buenos Aires and ending up in Lima, Peru. The trip to Manchu Picchu was a post-cruise trip. We spent the night in Lima and then the next day headed for Cusco the stepping off point for Manchu Picchu and a beautiful little town, actually not too little; population little more than 300,000. With its old churches and squares, it seemed like a small place, but a great place to just walk around and enjoy this beautiful old town.
Cusco is located about 11,000 feet above sea level and before we got there we were lectured over and over again about altitude sickness. I thought they were over doing the warnings, since in my younger days I have been in much higher places, including the Rockies and the mountains in Bavaria, Germany. But they were right! It wasn’t long after we got there that I had to sit down and relax a little! It might have to do with my age, you think?
There are many ways to get to Manchu Picchu from Cusco: bus, car, hiking, and train. The way to go is on the Orient Express “Hiram Bingham” train. Such comfort and luxury! It takes about three hours through some beautiful scenery. It was a slow trip but with the views and the food that they served, you wanted the trip to last longer.
As you can see from the picture above there isn’t much left this beautiful archeological site. But it is full of history and so beautiful. The picture, although nice, and one a lot of you have seen in many travel magazine, but this is one taken my me.
As I said it is such a beautiful site; almost like a religious sanctuary!
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