Muchas Piedras

Our hands and feet have touched thousands of rocks over the last week - climbing, grabbing, knocking, slipping, brushing and resting. The Incas were obviously very dedicated, hardworking people. Just as the shackles of work finally dropped from my body two-thirds of the way through this trip, I was faced with creations and works far grander and far more complicated and difficult than the work I have done in my lifetime. This got me thinking--what is work????




It's easy to gaze over the span of Machu Picchu and think only of the heavy grit of labor required to build, as well as restore, this magnificent city. Yet we often forget the brains behind the brawn. Who is to say which is more primitive: building fortresses out of 7 ton rocks at 10,000 feet or building markets out of imaginary electronic digits? I guess both came to their own demise in their own time.....

So it is clear my struggle to reconcile the ancient world with the modern world is best left for the archeologists, anthropologists and economists.

What is left for us is to sit back and marvel at a grand creation...and so it is.

Chrissie and I spent two luxurious days climbing on, napping in and gazing upon Machu Picchu. One day was in blistering heat and one in rain and fog. This contrast beautifully revealed the vastness of this grand lost city.

The landslides back in January have devastated the region both economically and ecologically. Trains are the only access into Aguas Calientes, the tourist trap of a town at the base of the mountain. Just a few weeks ago they were able to begin running trains from KM 102 to Aguas Calientes with the help of buses and a lot of coordination. We hadn't counted on being able to visit Machu Picchu, but yet another surprise was offered to us on this trip.



Chrissie and I were both transfixed by the mountain and its ruins. I don't have much more to say other than thank you dear snakes for letting us pass through your trails...thank you dear tourists for keeping yourself scarce...and thank you dear mountain for hosting us so safely for those days and for showing us your wonder and your magic....what an amazing experience.