The following story about Machu Picchu, are from one of my many travels as a youngster, #curtbergsten.
Our ship M/s Broland would visit smaller ports in the year1964, one of them, San Juan de Marcona which was south of Lima/Callao. This was also the closest city on the coast to Cuzco, the city you pass through to get to Machu Picchu. I had decided to travel there.
My boss ad given me 3 days leave for the journey, which would take approximately 48 hours round trip, by bus and donkey ride.
The journey up to Cuzco went well, although it was an old bus with open windows, and it got cold before we arrived. Then there was a trip with a long Jeep, where we had to sit on hard wooden benches on the flatbed. I was devastated when we came to a mountain wall, which we were now to climb with the help of donkeys. But first we were to have a meal served in a shed attached to an old brown and tattered tent, I went in, but it was with doubts. The surprise came when the food that came at the long wooden tables in this strange restaurant. It was, Peruvian “Pollada” which is a traditional dish and characterized by its unique taste. It was chicken marinated in a special blend of chicha de jora, black beer, red chili, and spices. It was delicious. I have later tried to cook this dish, but never managed to get the same good taste.
Now it felt better, after the long muddy journey, with food in the stomach. Now we should start to prepare for the ascent of the mountain wall. I bought myself a locally made poncho woven from llama wool, by an old lady who promised it would keep me warm.
I can promise that the path was no more than half a meter wide at some places after only half an hour’s ride, and when I looked down it was a vertical drop about 200m, so it was better to look forward up to the driveway. It took 2 hours on the donkey’s back before we reached the top where these impressive buildings constructed of large stone blocks. Most buildings were overgrown, with green creeping plants, but there were large open walking spaces where you could overlook this historic city and at the same time imagine how people had lived here in Inca times. I walked around and felt these old walls, while experiencing a closeness to how the people had felt at that time, it was an eerie feeling.
The view of the mountains of Los Andes, around us, was stunning with great eagles (or Condors) circling the mountaintop on which these buildings with some ruins were located.
There was a mystery about the area, which is difficult to explain, but easier to understand after I learned what had happened to the inhabitants. Namely, there had been a bloodbath during the conquest of Machu Picchu in 1532 by the Spaniard, Francisco Pizarro
It was with a sad feeling that we left the place and started the descent. This was something I would never experience again, but I have had so many thoughts visit the place, over the years. Memories that cannot be erased!
I can recommend everyone to visit Machu Picchu, even if nowadays it has been converted into a tourist attraction.
Thanks for reading my post.
#windmush #curtbergsten
See Photos of Machu Picchu Before It Became a Major Tourist Attraction (life.com)
The Ultimate Machu Picchu Travel Guide (travelandleisure.com)
