The first time I saw a photo of Machu Picchu as a kid, I was smitten, mesmerized, awestruck. It’s been in the back of my mind ever since, a magical place that whispered to me over the decades, “Andy, come see this. It’s everything you dream of, and more. Trust your instincts. Make it happen, fulfill the dream.”
It’s one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
Machu Picchu became my #1 bucket list adventure goal, combining in one destination a travel potpourri dream-come-true:
- stepping foot on a new continent (South America), country (Peru) and cities (Lima; Cusco; the Sacred Valley; Machu Picchu) for the first time
- experiencing a new culture: the people, food, architecture & art
- laying eyes on an amazing, ancient archaelogical site which remained hidden to the world until being discovered in 1911 by Hiram Bingham
- a destination (number one tourist site in South America) shrouded in mystery (how did the Incas, an ancient civilization, build such an incredible stone city 800 years ago at the top of a mountain hidden in the Amazon jungle?)
- stunning, jaw dropping vistas
- air sucking verticals (the height and steepness of the mountains)
One month after retiring, thanks to a supportive, encouraging wife (your Grammy), I was on a plane in Miami, heading to Lima, Peru where my journey would begin. I’ve seen a lot of cool sites around the world, but this one had me giddy with excitement.
Highlights included:
- walking the streets of Cusco, the ancient Inca capital, and staying at an old monastery built in the 17th century
- seeing the ancient stone walls and buildings en route to the Sacred Valley
- feeding llamas and alpacas
- visiting the home of our guide in Ollantaytambo
- bringing pencils, pens, notepads and candy to kindergarten and first graders (it was like Christmas for them) who couldn’t speak English; singing “Wheels on the bus” to them after they sang a song to us in Quechua, their native language
- discovering guinea pigs used as a primary food in Peru vs. pets (in the U.S.)
- taking a glass ceiling train from mountains to the Amazon jungle
- laying eyes on the exotic ancient city of Machu Picchu
- climbing the ruins and exploring the ruins for two days, taking big gulps of air as I tried to maneuver around
Travel is incredible, it feeds my soul. Now that I’m retired, Grammy and I are planning on taking you to some cool places in the years ahead. That will be another dream come true!
Here are a few photos I took during my September adventure. The last photo of the poor little girl holding her father’s hand at the outdoor market in Ollantaytambo) was my favorite:
