I awoke at 5 am, made my way down to breakfast, and then out to catch the first bus to Machu Picchu, getting me there at 6:30. I chatted with the guy sitting next to me (Pascual), a bit in Spanish, a bit in English, who was a tour guide, and was getting there early, before he had to start his tour. He offered to meet up with me a bit later if I wanted (I ended up getting too wrapped up in Macchu Pichu, and missed him).
I made my way through the ticket gate, and then up a zig-zag stone path, climbing up through dense tropical greenery, with beautiful flowers staring back at me, listening to the birds early morning songs. I made my way into the ruins, standing amongst maybe 10 other early morning tourists, as a thick blanket of fog hung over the ruins. I stood, waiting for the first light of the sun, which was just now hitting Machu Pichu,
to warm up the air, and lift the clouds. And I didn't have to wait long.
I don't even think I can describe it. Even now, my memory can't even hold the amount of awe I had. Seeing the ruins laid out before my feet, fresh in the early morning air, so silent, except for the birds, and the other tourists who were gasping, and trying to capture the perfect photograph. Of all the photos that I have seen, none can do justice to the experience of standing there, as the sun touches upon the ancient stones, with the rest of the Andes surrounding you, showing you their secrets, and the rivers flowing down at the bottom of the mountain, constantly talking with you.
I wandered through the site, taking time to sit and marvel. I climbed up, and down, said hello to the orchids, and butterflys, and lizards. There is absolutely no place like this on earth. I was jealous of the people who got to spend every day here.
Yet, as the sun rose higher, and the tourists poured in, I began to understand how Jessica, another student, said, it was nice, but just another set of ruins. It was almost two different worlds. I was so glad I had awoken early, and made my way up. Everything that I had gone through before on the trip was so worth it, just for the moments that I was able to spend up there.
-Jillian
I made my way through the ticket gate, and then up a zig-zag stone path, climbing up through dense tropical greenery, with beautiful flowers staring back at me, listening to the birds early morning songs. I made my way into the ruins, standing amongst maybe 10 other early morning tourists, as a thick blanket of fog hung over the ruins. I stood, waiting for the first light of the sun, which was just now hitting Machu Pichu,
to warm up the air, and lift the clouds. And I didn't have to wait long.
I don't even think I can describe it. Even now, my memory can't even hold the amount of awe I had. Seeing the ruins laid out before my feet, fresh in the early morning air, so silent, except for the birds, and the other tourists who were gasping, and trying to capture the perfect photograph. Of all the photos that I have seen, none can do justice to the experience of standing there, as the sun touches upon the ancient stones, with the rest of the Andes surrounding you, showing you their secrets, and the rivers flowing down at the bottom of the mountain, constantly talking with you.
I wandered through the site, taking time to sit and marvel. I climbed up, and down, said hello to the orchids, and butterflys, and lizards. There is absolutely no place like this on earth. I was jealous of the people who got to spend every day here.
Yet, as the sun rose higher, and the tourists poured in, I began to understand how Jessica, another student, said, it was nice, but just another set of ruins. It was almost two different worlds. I was so glad I had awoken early, and made my way up. Everything that I had gone through before on the trip was so worth it, just for the moments that I was able to spend up there.
-Jillian
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