Machu Picchu

We got up early yesterday.  Real early.  We rolled out at 6 AM.  After a 2 and 1/2 hour bus ride, we got to the train station.  Then we had a 2 hour train ride on Peru Rail up to Machu Picchu.  The train ride has been rated as the second most scenic and beautiful train ride in the world.  It certainly lived up to that billing.  It was a gorgeous ride through the mountains and into the rain forest/jungle.

We arrived at Machu Picchu around noon.  We ate a spaghetti lunch at a restaurant near the train station.  Then we went up on bus for a 25 minute ride up to the entrance of Machu Picchu.  The scenery around there was indescribable.

Once inside, we hiked up to the top of Machu Picchu.  It took our breath away...literally.  Once everyone caught their breath, we took a group photo and then split off into 2 groups for tours.  Each tour lasted around 2 hours.  It was fantastic.  Machu Picchu, built around 1420, is most deservedly one of the seven wonders of the world.  It was breathtaking.  To see how it was built so that erosion would not affect it was awesome.

We drove back to the train station and then had a two hour train ride back.  After another 2.5 hour bus ride, we rolled back into the hostel around 11:15 PM.  Then we had a late pizza dinner, which was very good.

Today, we go back to Lima.  We will have lunch and dinner in Lima.  We will go to the Lima Market to do some shopping.   Our red-eye back to Atlanta leaves after midnight and we will arrive back in Raleigh around 1 PM on Saturday.

We have all had a fantastic trip.  The people of Peru are great.

Thank you for all of your prayers and well wishes over the duration of the trip and the prayers before we left. We really appreciate it.