Breathtaking Machu Picchu
Giving Thanks at Machu Picchu, Peru
Happy Thanksgiving 2010 is all I have to say. Who knew that I would be standing on top of
David Wolfe and Peru Gang, Wayna Picchu
WaynaPicchu (the mountain which watches over the ruins) giving thanks this year. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to celebrate than to be taken with all its glory. To sit and wonder why I am so blessed in this life. To bow down to the young and ominious Andes in all their jagged rock and green vegetation. To celebrate living on this planet. That’s a reason to give thanks, a big thank you for being alive in this moment in time. Pacha mama (Mother Earth) is a great source of energy in all her magesty.. if you attempt to tap in, you’ll feel it, experience it, relish in it. She’s alive and kicking and we are all connected to her in a very big, big way.
Our group (David Wolfe’s Adventures) wanted to be one of the very first people in line to get the stamp we needed to climb Wayna Picchu. They only allow
Early Morning at Machu Picchu
400 people access to this spectacular view of the valley, a very steep and windy trail that takes about an hour and half… but worth every breathtaking stone
Early Morning Bus Line, Aguas Calientes
step. So, all 40 of us were up at 2:30 in the morning to stand in line for the very first bus which left Aguas Calientes at 5:30am. Yes, it sounds a bit ridiculous, but I like many of us, have waited a lifetime to visit the sacred site.. so I was ready to do whatever it took. I was impressed with the determination of our clients – who believe it or not, managed to be on time and prepared for the rainy weather which unleashed itself at about 3am. Fortunately we were able to wait for the bus underneath an awning. To tell you the truth the rain felt soooo good, so cleansing. I have been in Peru for two months now and had not seen rain – even though it is the beginning of the rainy season. The farmers have been praying for a good downpour so they can finally plant their crops. Did I mention I hate lines so, so, so much? It’s what we had to do though. Other groups were right behind us and by 3:30, the line was 4 blocks long.
The drive to Machu Picchu is only about 20 minutes by bus up a very windy (and I must say ugly road). I wish
Machu Picchu, Peru
they hadn’t put the road in because I think to see Machu Picchu you should have to work for it, climb the stone
In Silent Awe
steps up for the 2-hour trek. I know it is not feasible as a business… but damn, the road they cut into the mountain side is just plain ugly from above.. and distracting.. and to accessible in my mind. It was still raining when we arrived and rushed to get in line. About 50 hikers were already waiting. It was foggy as hell, like you couldn’t see a thing. You didn’t know how tall and gorgeous the mountains were around, couldn’t really see any of the ruins. Our group belined it up to a watch tower – the perfect place to catch the sunrise, although this day it wouldn’t happen. Still, even without a visual, you could feel the magic. Since I’ve been practicing more of a barefoot lifestyle, the shoes came off and my feet instantly started taking in the energy of the Apus (mountain spirits) as we waited for the fog to lift. So quiet, so serene, so spectacular
A Picture's worth a Thousand Words
even seeing a small portion of the terraced walls through the fog. A couple of us ladies decided to join hands and stand tall and ask the universe for blue skies, for a better visual to experience this sacred site for all that it is worth on this day of giving thanks. Intention is a magical thing. Soon we had a big hole of blue sky and the fog started moving and lifting. Our entire group started oooing and awing as the grand ruins, the lost city of the Incas introduced itself to us.
Time and time again I kept thinking… how did they do this? How did they manage such greatness on top of such a steep mountain? How did they choose this protected spot? Where did they go? Will they return? Photographs galor, smiles and hugs… lots of tears. I couldn’t help it, I was so filled with emotion and ended up crying and laughing the entire day. Yes, I had seen pictures of Machu Picchu – it is the most recognizable sight in South America.. but somehow a picture can’t capture the grandness or greatness. Not until you are fully presesnt and surrounded does the magnitude finally seep in. Then take it a step further, take your shoes off and feel the energy of this sacred sight. Not
Ladies taking a moment
kidding, about 30 of us did just that and I swear it is the only way to experience the full picture. If you are quiet enough, aware enough, you can feel the energy whizzing through your body… the energy of lifetimes before you… generations who have existed… and then past, opening space for new cultures and progression. Of course, all of our technology in this lifestime doesn’t compare to the brilliance of the Incas and the Atlantans before them.
I wanted to run, to explore every inch of this holy place.. but that’s not realistic with the amounts
Sean and Juan having lunch
of tourists and tour groups filing in.. so we all kept a fairly slow pace as we weaved in an out of the terraces, walls and royal structures. Our guide gave us the lay of the land, three areas.. one for agriculture, another was where everyone lived, the residential area.. then there is the sacred area for ceremonies and the astronomical area. The set up is astounding and inside I kept thinking, I want to live like this! Forget about the cell phones and computers – let’s create some more roofs and move here, it’s bound to be one of the safest places on earth in the next couple years. As crazy as it sounds, I felt
All smiles at the top of Wayna Picchu
so at home, like I had been here before, perhaps in a different life. What was life like? I could close my eyes and almost see the population walking around doing business. Machu Pichu was a grand trading station for all of Peru and beyond. To date, they’ve found more than 9 separate long trails coming from all directions which lead to Machu Picchu. So far, 45-thousand kilometers, or 30 thousand miles of Inca trails have been discovered… which they believe is still only half. I mean the information is just jaw dropping. This empire was huge. The biggest fact that blew my mind was that the Incas did not build these structures.. rather 
took the area over. There’s speculation that the people from Atlantis actually built the site some 12-thousand years ago.. then abandoned it for some mysterious reason. The Incas took over and inhabited the place for some couple hundred years.. till they too, abandoned ship, but why? Why would two civilizations both abandon what appears to be heaven on earth?Why did they leave, where did they go.. will they ever return? Or did they leave… could they have just changed form.. maybe the gorgeous trees around the site are all Atlantans.. maybe they went inside the mountain to give strength to the Apu. Who’s to say. All I know, is I feel blessed as ever to afford the time to visit, explore and
Unbelievable Structures, Machu Picchu, Peru
relish in this ancient and mysterious site.
David and gang all seem to make it up to the top of Wayna Picchu and although the group was fragmented on the way up – as we all are in such different condition.. it was nice to meet at the top and to celebrate together in all the glory which was laid out before us. No words needed to be spoken, but you can imagine the looks we all exchanged. My friend Kyra and I found a spot to sit and meditate just below the top and the rest of the group.
The Watcher of Machu Picchu
Again, I couldn’t contain the emotions I was feeling. I wanted to fly. I felt I could fly. I could look to the skies, the mountains the river below and feel the energy of all of them. I was connected, so deeply connected to Pacha Mamma.. she knows I will do anything to save her and protect her. I felt like I was floating most of the time. Our friend Evyonne – who’s scared of heights – challenged herself to the top. We were so proud of her when she came tumbling into our laps. What success, what strength and determination. Such a glorious day. We spent most of the day way up top looking down on the ruins and taking in the mountains
Groovinda digging the view
around us. On the way down, we decided on a different route which took us to these stone houses, almost still fully intact, perched on an outcropping. About 15 of us gathered in the house for some praise and some kirtan. A couple of us girls wanted to take it to the edge, so we climbe down on this platform which literally hung over the river. This, I thought to myself, must have been a very special spot.. but for what? It didn’t matter… it all was truly amazing. Our group definitely was in a different realm than most tourists. One tourist came running up to the top, breathing so heavy he broke us out of our dreamy silence. I asked him to settled down and sit with us for a while.. he responded he had no time, that he ran up tot the top. Then he grabbed his camera and did the most “rambo” like snapping I’ve ver heard or seen. Like a machine gun, he
Brilliant Art
started firing off pictures. Talk about a jolt. His energy came at us like a serpent.. which we had to do everything we could to protect our own positive uplifting and nurturing energy. This is what is wrong in the world. People have no time to stop, to take in the beauty and to respect and honor our great world and all of its diverse beauty. We spent all day on Wayna Picchu. In fact, we were escorted down by one of the guards who was trying to close up shop. My what he must have thought. 25 people, all barefoot and smiling, happy and full of hope. He didn’t
Heading down after a spectacular day!
seem to mind and I along with Sean our spectacular photographer made small talk on the way down. I’m sure we were a different kind of group for him… but somehow, I think he was enjoying our vibe.
My nurturing side was fully present and I made sure everyone was drinking water and such, making sure all knew we only had an hour before the last bus which we MUST be on. Otherwise it was a 2 hour hike down. The group spread out as each felt the need to spent a couple lasting moments to themselves. I met up with a small group and David overlooking another soldier of a mountain. We sat on the terrace and shared mangoes, grenadillas and anything else left as food. The rain was coming our way and we could see a rainbow trying to emerge, however it couldn’t seem to land, rather floated in the sky. Peace, breathing, balance, gratitiude.. a slice of heaven.
Sign of Hope, Aguas Calientes, Peru
As we managed our way onto the bus, each buddy checking for their other halves, an unbelievable scene started to emerge. The rainbow gathered itself and exploded across the sky. I’m not kidding about its strength. In Ecuador I would see a couple rainbows a day.. but this was unreal, the strength, the colors…. Like Mother Nature was bidding us a farewell like no other. Camera’s were going off. We managed to get the bus driver to pause for a moment. One rainbow turned into two, then 3. It bursted into the sky the entire way down the mountain. Stunned, the bus was filled with oooohs and ahhhs. I was sitting next to David and we just kept looking at each other, smiling and shaking our heads. How could we be so lucky, so blessed to witness such greatness. When we arrived at the bottom, tired, dirty and full of bliss… Sean, Yvonne , Justin and I split from the group heading to the hotel to seek out the end of the rainbow. It was crazy, in Aguas Caliente life seemed to be carrying on as normal. Could they not see the beauty above them. The rainbow was now fully across the sky, tears of joy raining down on us. All I kept thinking was…. I am so blessed, I am so in love with this world, I will never take for granted the beauty that has been created for all of us to enjoy. Thank you Planet Earth!
