The Inca site of
Machu Picchu
dry laid without mortar, I’m reminded
remoteness Bingham must’ve felt upon
of something I learned back in Cuzco:
his arrival here. That is, if it wasn’t
After the conquistadors razed Incan
for the vendors hawking every sort
buildings, they built cathedrals,
of Peruvian textile, knickknack, pan
churches and villas in the Spanish
flute, sombrero and Andean kitsch.
architectural style. With each earth-
Our appointed Hiram Bingham guide
quake that shook the city,
spirits us through the tourist
Spanish buildings crum-
market and across a foot-
bled but the seismi-
bridge to a waiting bus.
cally sound Incan
Our driver navi-
foundations upon
gates the bus along
which they were
Aguas Caliente’s
built remained
busy streets and,
unmoved.
minutes later,
I follow a path
we’re winding
of centuries-old
up the steep road
stones toward Inti
to Machu Picchu,
Punku (“the sun
around impossibly
gate”), where early
tight turns.
birds can watch the
Though I’d visited the
sunrise. Ten minutes later,
site once before many years
A llama surveys
I arrive at the gate and gaze
ago, I’m still left speechless
Incan ruins
down upon the lush moun-
by my first glimpse of the cit-
tain valley. I can’t help but reflect
adel, perched improbably on a sharp,
upon the Inca’s understanding of
terraced ridge. We wander through
astronomy: Not a rock was laid or
the historic site, wading among
building constructed here without
crowds of people armed with selfie
consideration of its placement and
sticks protruding like antennae. I
alignment with the heavens.
quietly slip away from my group for
Marvels and mysteries like this form
a solo walk through the maze of epic
the enduring appeal of the Incas, a civ-
walls and structures.
ilization conquered but never gone.
As I study the exquisite stonework,
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Peru: Ancient LAnd of Mysteries
10 dAys, JAnuAry–MArch
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MAchu Picchu & the GALAPAGos
15 dAys, JAnuAry–deceMber
dePArtures
the coMPLete south AMericA
23 dAys, JAnuAry–MArch
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cuLtures of Peru & boLiviA
14 dAys, noveMber–deceMber
2018 dePArtures
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For more info:
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