Our first ruin inside the Machu Picchu park was the 'gatekeeper's cottage' here. The thatched roof is in front of the iconic peak so famous in all the pics of this place.
The peak is evident from almost everywhere in the park. Old stone walls here make a nice grassy enclosure.
Karen with postcard peak in the background. We had an overcast day to wander here.
The peak dwarfs the village in this picture.
Jason's postcard picture. Awesome.
Karen with her postcard shot.
The village buildings here have lost their rooves but you can see the place was pretty extensive. Much about it is still a mystery.
I like the triangular roof supports made of stone. Thick walls keep these structures standing.
Jason in a doorway made of stone. I wonder how they ever lifted such heavy materials.
The entire place is pretty high up the mountainside. There were 13 or 14 switchbacks for the bus to make it up the hill. Note the single tree in this shot.
A sacrificial stone altar.
This crooked wall is the result of earth movement, not poor building skills. It was the only deformity we really saw in the place.
This stone slab is elevated at one end. I don't know why.
The circular bits that stick out of the blocks of stone are part of the stone structure as well. Usually supports like these are made of timbers, but up here they are stone.
Terraced landscapes were the order of the day here.
This thatched building was one of importance for sacrifices. The lady in the lower right corner is in front of the altar where it is thought they sacrificed virgins.
The altar for virgin sacrifices.
Jason about to head off to the Inca Bridge, a steep-sided narrow path around a hillside.
This building looked like it could be on an Irish farm.
Karen lounging on the stone stairs of a ruin.
The city up here is quite the complex of angles. Lots of walls and corners. What a view!
Some white granite stone structures in Machu Picchu.
Looking back across the structured terraces. Those tiny marks are all people. The place was full of tourists like us.
Even stone stairs wear over time.
Temple of the Condor. The smooth rock formation here is meant to look like a condor in flight.
The only water we saw, this tiny flow was said by some to be the tears of virgins.
An alpaca grazed on the grounds. It's hard for me to tell the difference between an alpaca and a llama. It wasn't bothered by all the folks passing by.
An Incan god statue.
We took the upscale Vista Cruiser train on the way back to Ollantaytambo. It had live entertainment, snacks and included a drink and a fashion show.
This mask hung on the wall of the club car where the band played.
This smiling couple performed a traditional dance for us in the club car.
The guy had the biggest smile ever during the whole performance.
Jason at the front of the car where you could stick your head out of the train.
Jason was pulled into dancing with one of the staff, too. My injured foot kept me from getting pulled in as well.
Look at me, I'm dancing!
The ladies were so short they could pass under while Jason was twirling his partner.
Jason munching on our quinoa chips, quinoa cereal bar, and piece of chocolate. We had coca tea and chamomile tea as well.
The staff then put on a fashion show of alpaca garments available for sale. So soft and expensive.
Some locals still use the terraced hillsides to farm the old ways.
Water flowed through Ollantaytambo and we followed the flow to the start of the hike to the old granary ruins Pinkulluna above the town.
The hillside ruins where the Incans stored grains and vegetables for hard times. They kept the food stores so high up the hill that they were safe from theft or attacks. There's a variety of potato here that can last 40 years in storage without spoilage.
You can see across the valley and the town to the Temple of the Sun, another ruin you can pay to visit here. Too many steps to interest me.
Another view as we got closer to the grain storage buildings on the mountainside.
Zoomed in to part of the building.
Karen and Jason at the rest stop on the hike up to the grain storage buildings. The Temple of the Sun is below my right armpit.
The entrance to the hike up to the granary. Jason whacked his head on the sign as we returned from the hike.
The soccer field in town is edged with an ancient aqueduct with water running in it today.
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