Cusco 20 to 2 degrees, weather cloudy
Machu Picchu 25 - 9 degrees, weather fine
2,430 metres above sea level

Today in Cusco it is their National Flag day so it was going to be a very busy day with lots of people out as there will be a parade to mark the heroes of the Pacific .

We caught the Vista dome train from Ollantaymbo station this morning at 10am and arrived at Machu Picchu station at 12.24pm. There was some amazing views along the way of snow capped mountains and rugged valleys but the best was to come.

A bus transported us to the entry gates of Machu Picchu which was a 25 minute ride and definitely well worth the US $20 which APT paid. We entered the gates around 1pm and came out at 5pm. Wow the place is absolutely amazing as there are no words to describe the majestic size of the place and the sheet ingenuity if these people who designed and built this village high up in the mountains. Pictures will definitely not do it justice but I took a couple of hundred anyway. There were so many steps, high ones low ones and rocky paths. My, I was definitely out of breath along the way so we had some stops where the guide gave some explanations about the buildings and views which we were gazing upon .  Mind you it was not only me that was out of breath.

There is not much more that I can say except Machu Picchu exceeded all of my expectations and more. I have posted some pictures but it is hard to choose the ones to put up.

Enjoy!