Machu Picchu 2000

Me doing the same. Me doing the same. We all wondered what the buildings in the cliff were used for. A fortress? A sanctuary? Apparently, they were used to store grain grown on the terraces. We all wondered what the buildings in the cliff were used for. A fortress? A sanctuary? Apparently, they were used to store grain grown on the terraces.
The Incas liked to build on steep cliffs. The Incas liked to build on steep cliffs. The town of Ollantatambo. What has changed since Inca times, mostly, are the facades of the buildings. The foundations are original Inca construction. The town of Ollantatambo. What has changed since Inca times, mostly, are the facades of the buildings. The foundations are original Inca construction.
Examining an Inca portal. Examining an Inca portal. Goat herders passing through on top of the stone terraces. Goat herders passing through on top of the stone terraces.
Dara at the Temple of the Sun. Note the distinctive Inca cross carved into the smoothly polished stone. Dara at the Temple of the Sun. Note the distinctive Inca cross carved into the smoothly polished stone. My turn at the Temple of the Sun. My turn at the Temple of the Sun.
Most Inca stonework is less fine than what we saw at the temple. Most Inca stonework is less fine than what we saw at the temple. Taking the narrow trail to the other side of the mountain. Taking the narrow trail to the other side of the mountain.
Dara on the narrow footpath at Ollantatambo. Dara on the narrow footpath at Ollantatambo. Looking over the terraces from the footpath. For scale, find the two people walking along the terraces in the bottom right of the photo. Looking over the terraces from the footpath. For scale, find the two people walking along the terraces in the bottom right of the photo.
Dara looking like she's enjoying herself despite the rain. Dara looking like she's enjoying herself despite the rain. The famed pottery works outside of Ollantatambo featured this pretty parrot; too bad he was camera shy! The famed pottery works outside of Ollantatambo featured this pretty parrot; too bad he was camera shy!
The highlands above the Sacred Valley yielded many fine views. I never get my fill of snow-covered peaks! The highlands above the Sacred Valley yielded many fine views. I never get my fill of snow-covered peaks! Snowmelt from the high mountains cuts these ravines across the plains. Pretty, ain't it? Snowmelt from the high mountains cuts these ravines across the plains. Pretty, ain't it?
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