Machu Picchu (the RA way)

They say that watching the sunrise in Machu Picchu is beautiful and an experience you'll never forget.

What not everybody says, or knows, or thinks about for that matter, is that HUNDREDS of people arrive to MP to watch it.

EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.

All the tour groups that are freshly arrived from the Inca trail, and all the people who arrived by train and take the buses up from Aguas Calientes... all of them want to see the majesty of the sun kissing the ruins first thing in the morning.

...

While that happened on the day we had our tickets to enter the ruins, we were sleeping. And it was yet another good decision fueled by our laziness.

A couple we had met in Cuzco had told us that MP was really full of people first thing in the morning, and that the sunrise they saw was through the gaps between the heads of a legion of other tourists and travelers who were just as eager as them to capture the moment with their iPhones and cameras.

Me and Chey, instead, slept until the sun was already up, got ready, got breakfast (which was extremely difficult since most places close after the super-early-bird breakfast and until noon), and with out most chilled pace started heading to the ruins.

The main "plaza" is pretty much empty in the morning.

Except for people taking pictures with the sign.

 The way to get there is really pretty. You take the same dirt road the tour buses take, and after crossing a river you start going up a shortcut that is fairly steep and very lush.

Crossing the river.

Chey with the unnecessarily big MP sign. 

A claw-like fern on the way up.

 It was slightly cloudy but pretty warm, and the hike up got us as sweaty as the train tracks walk had done the previous day.

However, carrying only our small daypacks was a very welcome change after the big full backpacks, and the experience was extremely pleasant.

Sweaty Adri.

Sweaty Chey.

 We didn't see many people while going up, so we were getting our hopes up as we got closer to the actual ruins.

In fact, when we finally got to the entrance, heaps of people were leaving, which filled us with joy.

It is still Machu Picchu though, probably the most popular destination in South America, so there was a good assortment of people from all around the world (many of them, to Chey's disgust, were carrying walking poles), and a few lucky stray dogs that were getting everyone's leftover snacks.

Machu Picchu's official dog.

Who, unlike me, is very good a posing for photos.

 Once we entered, the sun came fully out from behind the clouds.

We bathed ourselves in sunscreen and started walking around and marvelling at the beauty of everything.

The first view of MP, which you have probably seen thousands
of times all around the internet, if you haven't seen it live.

 As usual we eavesdropped on a few tour guides for a short while, and heard that we should be going to the Puerta del Sol (sun's gate), a spot on the far edge of MP through which people enter after the Inca Trail.

So we started walking towards the sun's gate (doesn't this sound like something a crazy astrologist would say?) and the walk proved to be fairly long for our already tired legs (after the long walk of the previous day and the hike up from Aguas Calientes).

The almighty jean-wearing hiker.

Not sure if Machu Picchu or Huayna Picchu mountain.

On the way to the sun's gate there are a lot of big beautiful things, but
also a lot of small beautiful things. Here: MP moss.

Tiny flowers.

A short stop to marvel at the beauty.

Can you see the snake-like path of the buses?

 On the walk, we started joking and saying that maybe the sun gate was just a random gate structure, just like the ones at the main part of the ruins and it was not worth the walk. But we imagined going back home and talking to people and having them facepalming while yelling "what do you meAN YOU DIDN'T GET TO THE AMAZING SUN GATE!!"

So we kept walking to that far edge, and guess what?

Yep: the sun gate was just a random gate structure.

Still cool, but so are the main ruins.

And we had fun taking photos of people taking photos.

Walls around the sun's gate. It was actually pretty nice.

More ancient walls.

 The walk was still fun, but by then we were already a bit tired, so we went back to the grassy planes in front of the main ruins and just chilled there in the sun for a while.

B&W MP. Pretty cool, uh?

Always: feet selfie.

Chey's feet selfie.

 While we were chilling we met a nice Aussie solo traveler, and he took this lovely picture of us:

The Random Adventurers (yes, all capitalized)

Once we felt rested, we did some more walking and exploring around.

But before that we let our travel buddies take a good look at the ruins.

As usual, Emperor Meow was not impressed.

Walking the ruins.

Neighbourhood goals.

Llamas asking for snacks.

Me, having a conversation with the llamas.

"Hahaha, good one mate! You guys are hilarious!"

Now look at my cuteness and SURRENDER.

Beautiful vicuña.

It's coming to me.

Never forget that vicuñas are the spawn of Satan.

But she decided to let us live.

More MP.

 And finally we  headed back to Aguas Calientes, down the beautifully green path, across the river and down the dirt road.

Wherever in the world we go, Chey ends up with a
dog following him. 

The river.

Old and beautiful mossy bridge.

...

That night we had celebratory dinner at an Italian owned place in town, where we had the very best pizzas we had in the whole trip, and for me (who never went to Italy), probably the best of my life. A life changing experience. They make their own mozzarella!!!!!!!

We also had beer and a HUGE Pisco sour.

Chey's beer and my ridiculously big Pisco sour.

Like, seriously, look at the size of that goblet!

LOOK!

Most amazing pizzas
(looking at this photo gave me actual goosebumps)

Actually, I was tempted to name this post "That day we had the amazing pizzas and gigantic Pisco sour... ah! and also went to Machu Picchu".