Machupicchu ~ Thursday, July 10, 2014

Today was the day we traveled to Machu Picchu. As we passed a lot of small hillside homes leaving Cusco, he pointed out the many steps that residents had to climb. These people were squatters. Population in 1992 was 270,000, and in 2014 it is 500,000. This increase in population is causing garbage problems. Also a large number of people are not paying taxes. Hotel chains control the government, so they aren’t paying taxes either. In the mid 1990’s the country was opened up to tourism because the terrorists were defeated.

In 1976 a new president gave land back to the Inca decendants. the rich people were very angry. In 1977 some radical Peruvians went overseas to become terrorists, then they came home and started stealing and destroying. This reign of terror lasted for twenty years, and there was 7000% inflation. The new President, Alberto Fujimori, declared war on terrorists. Other citizens started turning in these radicals until the leaders were caught. No foreign countries would help because there were no resources that would benefit them.

We stopped at the pottery factory where I bought some coasters the last time I was here. After the tour Paul picked out four more. I met the famous sculptor on the way out. Soon we arrived at the train station and boarded the train. We could see the river below, one of the Inca trails, and the jagged peaks above. Freddy had given us box lunches so we would have more time this afternoon in Machu Picchu.

When we arrived, Freddy gave us a tour of the stone structures there. He is so informative. We learned a lot about why it was there and who the people were. It was a place of power where the king and priests and priestesses lived.

We were some of the last tourists to leave this evening. We will be back tomorrow morning! We rode the bus back down the winding road. Tonight Freddy went with us to a restaurant with delicious food. I had papaya and avocado balls with s special dipping sauce, lemon trout, freshly made potato chips, hot tomatoes and other vegetables, flan, and a glass of Sauvignon Blanc.

The hotel was much better than the one where I had stayed in 2008. There wasn’t much Internet coverage, though, so I couldn’t post on this blog.

20140711-224521.jpg. Scenic view from the train

20140711-225633.jpg. Group picture

20140712-210025.jpg. Pottery

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