Friday, 22 February 2013

Machu Picchu

Not sure where to begin with this one, we have been tourists for a while, a visit to the world famous site of Machu Picchu involved a 2 hour car trip then a 1 hour 40 minute train to Aguas Calientes where we stopped for the night then a trip to Machu Picchu the following day then of course the reverse journey but the lat bit by bus. Put bluntly, I hate being a "tourist" and I have to say you get fleeced at every opportunity in this part of the world. That aside Machu Picchu was amazing, built 600 years ago it is an amazing feat of engineering when you take into account the location and the associated difficulties, rediscovered just over 100 years ago by an American who subsequently took the treasures out of the country. I'm glad we visited it but like I say my kick is from riding my bike , not being a tourist in its finest sense. We rode the 400 miles from Cusco to Nasca in two days as its a road that's difficult to keep good time on, hairpin after hairpin, at times you are glad of a straight to get a rest. It was interesting to see the locals working the land and their animals the same way they have been doing for hundreds of years, one thing I did observe was the amount of kids working or watching their younger siblings whilst their parents work, the women in particular seem to work very hard here whilst the men watch! The sad thing is the kids education undoubtedly suffers and whilst they all seem happy with this simple way of life it means they have no choice and will undoubtedly be disadvantaged as the country develops. We found a crack in the pannier frames yesterday (both Right sides) but got them both welded today so ready to rock again tomorrow after seeing the Nasca Lines.

The road the bus takes you up! Not for the faint hearted
 Machu Picchu


 Long long way down
The Sundial at the top of Machu Picchu

 The money shot!! Copyright!!
 Furthest Travelled Antler Rally hat

 Typical houses in the outskirts of Agua Callienties, how can they build Machu Picchu 600 years ago and now this is normal!
 Also Copyright
 My new hobby, standing on the train line while the train is coming
 Vicous Parrot
 Health & Safety????
 This is easier to understand in Spanish!!
 600 years ago Machu Picchu now this!

 Stunning Rainbows
 The next load of UK hamburgers going for a walk!!! (Shocking revalations from the UK!!)
 Would you shower under this? Health and Safety not considered
 400 miles of this, good but tiring
 A challenge to market these in the UK, actually not Krap at all, quite nice!

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10 comments:

  1. Alan Throssell22 February 2013 at 23:12

    Love reading your updates, great pictures too, you made us all wait 5 days for the latest. Don't know about the others but I was starting to worry. I know exactly what you mean about the tourist thing.

    Ride's the reason, destination the excuse.

    Best wishes from Alan

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    1. Gino's Travels 222 February 2013 at 23:19

      Hi Alan
      Sorry about that but wifi and energy at the end of the day aren't always good ha ha. Just read your thread on the NOC site, snow? Roasting here now mate, get yourself over. Wyoming? Looking forward to it already
      Gino & Fiona

      Delete
  2. Hairy Larry23 February 2013 at 00:37

    Man...eatin' 'Krap', and not taking showers, and hangin' out with strange fury animals! Beautiful shots and as usual jealous. Keep on Truckin'!

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    Replies
    1. Gino's Travels 223 February 2013 at 21:13

      First time I enjoyed eating Krap, I did have a shower but admit to feeling a tad nervous! Thanks for the comments
      Gino & Fiona

      Delete
  3. Unknown24 February 2013 at 09:35

    WOW Guy's some really great pic's. I so glad to see that even over their the H&S rules r the same as here in Asia, NON existent. Just caught up with reading your blog, love the tale so far, given me some great ideas for when I and wife eventually do yhis route what to do & what not. Cheers
    Ride safe be safe
    Reint(Ryan)and Mary

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    Replies
    1. Gino's Travels 224 February 2013 at 21:53

      Thanks Reint, the longer you leave it the more chance the roads might improve, for some (me) its good but others would like to see the roads remaining Ripio
      Gino & Fiona

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  4. Anonymous24 February 2013 at 17:21

    Hi Gino & Fiona
    Another batch of fab pics & a mention for the Loch Lomond types.
    I had mate who visited Machu Pichu a couple of years ago & he was ill with altitude sickness for a week. How are you (& the bikes) coping with this? I suppose you are acclimatising better because of the slow ascent.
    JimF

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    Replies
    1. Gino's Travels 224 February 2013 at 21:56

      Hi Jim, We had slight problems but nothing major, as you say we climbed in stages, highest pass so far over 4600 Metres, you do feel it though and so do the bikes (especially if we can only get 84 octane petrol!!)
      Thanks for the comments
      Gino & Fiona

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  5. Martin24 February 2013 at 22:11

    Is that their version of a power shower? Could really wake you up.
    To see Machu Pichu in the flesh must be pretty amazing, as you say incredible to think how old it is and what tools they would have had. Could we do the same today? Keep on trucking and updating.

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    Replies
    1. Gino's Travels 225 February 2013 at 20:49

      Hi Martin, WE could do the same today, these guys not a chance, they forgot how to build here when they kicked the Spanish out!
      In Trujillo, same shower so must be the craze!!
      Gino & Fiona

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