Morning. Hell. 4:30 wake up calls during spring vacation are not what most kids expect. Heck, most kids would be a couple hours into their twelve hour long sleep. When the phone rang in our cozy, relaxing rooms, we found a plethora of reasons not to get up, and only further delayed the wake-up process. With droopy eyes and a sluggish gait, we dragged ourselves to the lobby, and proceeded to board the bus that would take us to the train station. After boarding the train, many us fell into a deep slumber. Most of our minds weren’t even on the destination of the day. Rather, it was to snore our way through the journey. The view outside of the train was awe-inspiring. From the animals in their natural habitat, to the crashing waves of the Urubamba River as it rushed down to a bank, and even to the lush vegetation as it flourished in the fertile soil of the Andes Mountains, many of us missed this wondrous view on our ascent up the mountain.
After exiting the train, there was a short bus ride up the mountainside. Despite the treacherous terrain and the rocky roads, we managed to pull through to the top. While at the ticket stand, we got a authentic stamp and walked our way up the short trail. And there it stood, in all its magnificent glory, and we finally understood what all the fuss was about. Machu Pichu, one of the seven wonders of the modern world, was standing in front of us, shrouded by a thick, dense fog that only added to its breathtaking beauty. The view was incredulous, with many of us frozen where we stood, unable to move. It was as if an anchor was holding us down, with Machu Pichu as the ships captain, ordering us to soak up the view. The group of thirty students were then split up into two groups of fifteen. One group was led by tour guide Hamilton, and the other by Freddy. We explored the ancient ruins of the Incans, daring to venture into the sacred temples and lairs including the Temple of the Condor and the humble adobe of the Incan King.
We trekked up the countless stairs, staring into the empty void below from the side of the mountain. We encountered llamas, and saw the numerous terraces that the Incans were able to cut into the mountain.
There were different plants from a small botanical garden including the coca leaf, which many associate with the drink Coca-Cola. We learned about the significance of different animals and about the unique culture of the Incans. The Incans believed in the condor as the messenger of the gods, the snake as a representation of the underworld, and the puma as a fierce creature that was a symbol of strength. Contrary to many beliefs, Machu Pichu, which means “Old Mountain“, was a small city for religious people in the Incan culture.
After exploring the riches and seeing what Machu Pichu had to offer, we hiked down the mountain to grab some lunch. Lunch was composed of various American foods, along with some Peruvian specialties. Some students had burgers, hot dogs, and pizza, while others had emponadas and escalope de pollo. After a hearty, filling lunch, we prepared for the journey back up the mountain to see what else Machu Pichu had in store for us.
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