The journey through the ancient places of Inka civilization proved to be one of the most impressive in my life (and I was fortunate enough to visit Russia, Altai, 13 countries of Europe, North and South America). The original plan and dream of many years, was a visiting Machu Picchu in Peru. And so, we with a girlfriend (now wife), begun our pre-wedding hehe movement towards the ancient city of Incas. The tickets were bought, we sat on their suitcases ... On the way. We flew to Colombia, where a short time stoped and moved to Peru by bus, through Ecuador. We stopped for a couple of hours from the border, in the coastal and through the cheerful town of Mancora. The sky was covered with clouds, it seemed to sunbathe today is not fate. We lay down on the towel, watching the rolling waves. After 2 hours I realized that’s became something not comfortable. I paid attention to my friend, she is red as a cocked crab. She called me the same :). The clouds slid even thicker and darker, but it was no longer possible to stay without T-shirts. The first lesson is received, the sun pierces and burns even the darkest clouds. The second lesson of the Peruvian element was given to us the next day, when during the tide, no more than four meters from the shore, nothing foreshadowing the wave knocked us off our feet and thrown it over to the shore. That's fun, for the local laughter they were grateful, it seemed just about to roll with laughter. We had no time for fun, the wave slapped me in the face, knocking out the jaw for couple of days, Raymonda also received a slight damage. In the water we tumbled short, but with the cuffs clearly up. The shock itself was more terrible than what had happened. After all swimmers from us not what, for that time I in general was not able to keep on water. And further than the Baltic puddle, that is, the Sea, where the waves are provoked only occasionally by floating ships, we once had no time. Here is such a wave, the Pacific Ocean, served as a help, for training attention. For traveling through the countries of the third world, it (attention) oh how can it come in handy. We moved further towards the ancient city of Cuzco. Especially not staying in the capital of Lima, having slept only the night we continued to keep heading for the mountains. By the way, in Peru there are very comfortable buses with beds, as a coupe. Where there is an outlet, and the bed can be closed with a curtain. After all, traveling such long distances while sitting, you will not agree easily. From the border to Lima 24 hours + to Cusco, in my opinion 20 with a little. Lifehack: Cruz del Sur bus, very expensive and beautiful, on board give something like sushi. Take it is not worth it, is designed for wealthy tourists, other bus companies are not inferior in quality. We got to Nazca, an incredible desert with huge inscriptions of ancient or other civilizations (as local people believe). The place really inspires. Previously, we knew about this place, but did not think to visit it. But being there, we decided to take no so cheap tour above. $ 80 for 30 minutes of flight? Anyway.
The Peruvian pilot knew not a few Russian words, but almost all of them were obscene, I do not even know which institute he studied :) The plane climbed into the sky and on the 10th minute we began to ask for a return to the airport. Of the terrestrial inscriptions of course breathtaking, but terrible heat and stuffiness, plus the airplane circled and bypassed each figure 2 times. We were already not interested in paid money, we just dreamed to land on the ground again, as all 4 passengers were sickening strongly.
Maybe the quality of the photo is not very, then look on the internet. It's worth seeing, even from a stuffy plane.
We finally reached Cuzco and immediately fell in love with this place. The altitude is about 3300m above sea level. The day of heat, but as soon as the sun sets, take out woolen socks-poncho hats. Phenomenal mountain landscapes, an abundance of cheap fruits - vegetables, shamanic ceremonies and thieves in crowded places (Thanks to the sun and the waves that taught to be attentive, otherwise we would not have money and passports). The Shamans' ceremonies are a separate big topic, but for the time being a little words about the valley of the Incas. In the literal sense is the place of power. Not only that ancient object, like Machu Picchu, Saqsaywaman, Pisak or Moray, but the whole valley. It is even dangerous to think what happened there during the reign of the leader Pachacuti.
You can meet for example a huge stone, maybe 5 meters high and 15 meters in length, fitted and cut to the royal throne, and processed so well that the current stone handlers would envy. We were lucky to live in a house on a mountain, above the city between two ancient ruinous projects 10 minutes to the Temple of the Moon and 5 minutes to Saqsaywaman. By the way, we lived there a little more than 4 months, lived perfectly. We learned some Spanish, got acquainted with local culture, took part in various ceremonies, and received life experience.
Machu Picchu is the center of the whole Inca empire. The city is located somewhere in the heavenly places. What would get there, you need to go, sometimes climb almost on steep walls). So it is necessary to have time from the opening of the gate through the bridge, before the opening of the gates of the city. For this there are 2 hours, that is 2 hours of lifting up without interruptions. It was cool. Of course you can take a bus for 9usd, but is it more interesting than Camino de Inca? Over the course of time there we rushed from the guide to the guide, which would give as many stories as possible. One of the guides showed clearly cut or sawed steps in the stone and other intricate figures. Which to beat out a chisel and a hammer well simply it is not possible, too pure work, as if a hot knife through butter. The guide pointed a finger high at the mountain and said that alien civilizations had taught the local people to use the energy of the sun, passing it through large mirrors. There on the mountain, in their opinion was located a huge, solar laser. Which he could, easily cut out exactly and exactly any stone. The lost city did not want to leave, there is so much energy, just want to splash and splash in it, on a level with the clouds. Later, local-visitors said that you can get there at night, and take some cactus drink. And now, this is one of the places, along with Isla del Sol and Grand Canyon, where I will definitely return again.
Also in the end of May, there is an ancient holiday of water. Where several thousand people climb high into the mountains (5000m), for to sing and dance, pray to the water, gather in their opinion the most pure water on earth, and bring home. I do not exactly know how to spell the name of this celebration, but something like "Kayoriti". Very beautiful.
Back in Cusco, we met with one strange,but interesting traveler. Dmitry was a catacomb-seeker, and he also told interesting stories about tunnels passing through the whole country and a little to neighboring lands. The distances are simply huge and the depth of the location is the same. The entrances to the dungeon were found, but then the connection with Dmitri was lost.
After a lapse of four months, we returned, incidentally drove into the Jungle for a few days, to visit Mother-Amazon. In the vicinity of the cities of Taropoto and Pucallppa. Absolutely another world and I can say that "a few days is very little and totally not enough," the next time, necessarily for a little longer.
Thank you World for such beauty, for the opportunity to live and travel. About Peru we remember sometimes, but we live now in Ecuador, all the same he approached us more. Here is as well , a lot of interesting things.
Oh My English:)
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