Andrew Clem.com home Photo gallery Peru, 2004:
Cuzco & countryside (Part I)

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Machu Picchu: Lost city of the Incas!

Machu Picchu, the famed lost city of the Incas, which is probably the most wonderful, mystical, and photogenic spot on Planet Earth. It was discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911. This is the view from the entrance, on the southeast side. Huayna Picchu, the mountain in back of the ruins, rises over 1,000 feet above the ruins. Jacqueline and I somehow managed to climb it and live to tell the tale...

Machu Picchu, vertical

This distant view overlooking Machu Picchu is from the southwest side. The walls of the canyon of the Urubamba River, which is situated about 2,000 feet below, are almost vertical. (Still image from Canon ZR-65MC digital video camera.)

Machu Picchu

Andrew at Machu Picchu, with the peak of Wayna Picchu in back.

Andy at MachuPicchu

Jacqueline is surrounded by llamas on the Inca Trail, which connects Machu Picchu to other villages on the slopes of the Urubamba Valley.

Jacqueline, llamas

Machu Picchu, as seen from the peak of Wayna Picchu. The original photo was badly off-color, because someone had switched the rolls of film without telling me, and the (manual) setting was way off. DRAT! Thankfully, I was able to digitally retouch this photo to restore a decent color balance, though still with too much reddish tint around the edges.

Machu Picchu, from above

Urubamba Valley

The Urubamba Valley, from above. It was spectacular in spite of the overcast skies and constant drizzle. This place was about 15 miles northeast of Cuzco; Machu Picchu would be about 60 miles to the west, in the same direction as this view, downstream.

Urubamba Valley, above

While we stopped at the scenic overlook near the Urubamba River, two young Indian children ("cholitos") made a heavy sales pitch for various handicrafts. I ended up buying this sample of local agriculture, including dried potatoes, corn, other grain, and even a coca leaf.

Andy, cholitos

Farm terraces at Pisac, one of the major archeological sites in the Urubamba Valley. The overcast skies and drizzle prevented good photographs, but we were lucky to see several kinds of hummingbirds and other avian species in this lush area.

Pisac terraces

Further east in the Urubamba Valley we stopped at a country restaurant and enjoyed great dinners of trout and other local fish. Jacqueline, holding our field guide to birds of Machu Picchu, greets a domesticated parrot on the premises.

Jacqueline, parrot

Cuzco

Cuzco, from above

ABOVE: Cuzco, as seen from the edge of the ridge at the archeological site of Sacsayhuaman, on the east edge of town. To see a closeup of the main plaza, roll the mouse cursor over the photo. Compare that view to the photo of the protest below.


A protest march in Cuzco, consisting mainly of laid-off construction workers, teachers, and pensioners. I estimated at least 5,000 marchers. The smoke cloud was from a cherry bomb some demonstrators used to get people fired up, NOT tear gas. The demonstrators were otherwise peaceful, and the police were restrained. This was taken from the balcony of the restaurant where we were having lunch. (Freeze frame image from Canon ZR-65MC digital video camera.)

Cuzco protest

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