Machu Picchu!!! Way Beyond Cool!!

On Friday we woke up very early and were on the bus by 3:45am. This was our off day. We had a full day of traveling ahead of us, but excitement was in the air, despite our sleepiness. We were about to go to Machu Picchu! This ancient Incan city was never conquered by the Spaniards, and remains beautifully intact on top of the mountains. It was only recently discovered in the early part of the twentieth century. The walls are entirely made of granite and slate stones gathered from the surrounding mountains. Machu Picchu is located at about seven thousand feet above sea level.

When we arrived, we felt the air was easier to breath than most of the other places that we have been while in Peru. We had a tour guide for the first part of our exploration. Then we split up and hiked and explored the city ruins for a couple of hours before it was time for lunch. It was raining most of the time, but we still had a spectacular view and a ton of fun. Lunch was eaten in a five-star restaurant/hotel. After eating our lunch buffet-style, we headed back into the Machu Picchu city for another hour of exploring. There seemed to be never ending stairs, walls, windows, and panoramas to gaze at. We couldn’t help but stop and sing “How Great Though Art” at one spot.

Back on the bus, we headed down the mountain for a time of shopping and resting. Following the period of shopping, we returned to the home base at Cusco. On our way there we stopped in a pottery shop that was owned by a family of Christians. We were about to leave when Daniel, the team leader, was grabbed by a monkey. Daniel had been petting the monkey, and was about to leave, however, the monkey had other plans. The monkey grabbed Daniel by the finger as if to say, “Don’t leave me!” We rolled into our hotel about 9:00pm, thoroughly exhausted.

Well, that was a summation of our day of adventure and travel. - Jacob, for the Team

Comments from the Team:

What was your impression of Machu Picchu in one or two sentences?

“I loved seeing the clouds swirl around the mountains. It was majesty worthy of the King of Kings. You felt like you were part of a storybook.” – Christie

“WOW! INCREDIBLE!” - Charlie

“With the sharp mountains, river, and city in the clouds, Machu Picchu is the most beautiful place God made on earth.” – Celina

“Absolutely awe inspiring. I was taken away with the vastness of our God.”- Daniel

“One of the best parts was when a group of us went off the path and explored the ruins. I wouldn’t mind living here for the view of the mountains!—Lacey

“Machu Picchu stole my heart! It was beyond belief. Exploring the ruins in their beauty, that was one of my life desires.” - Nathaniel

“Breathtaking in more than one way” - Katherine

“I’ve always dreamed of actually being where history was made. Machu Picchu is just such a place.” – Ben

“Can’t get enough of it. God’s art at its finest!” – Nate

“It was breathtaking. I loved standing on the mountains and seeing God’s handiwork.” – Angela

“It was absolutely spectacular. It was the trip of a lifetime seeing the magnitude of God’s creative works.” – Amy

“Machu Picchu is one of the places you hear about, but hardly even dare to dream about visiting personally. Wow! What a gift from God to get to make this trip. The ruins were fascinating, but the mountains themselves were where we could see the glory of God. My favorite moment was standing on the steep side of the mountain, looking across at the jagged peaks, singing 'How Great Thou Art.'” – Elizabeth

And still more pictures - just because we thought this place was so cool that we must have taken hundreds of pictures in one day.

The Ballmanns - Christie and Nate

The ruins from a different angle

Falling off was absolutely forbidden!!

It's been there for a while, Ben. I don't think it's going to fall any time soon.

Does anyone else have a slight sense of vertigo?

Guys have a talent for finding places that are out of the way, up a steep cliff, under a rock, or for some other reason supposed to be off limits. Oh well. Since you're in there, let's take a picture.

Don't jump, Josiah!

Cold, wet, and still cute! (yeah right!)

It was really impressive they way the Incas incorporated the natural rock right into their buildings.

Thanks to Ben, Christie, Amy, Daniel, and Elizabeth for the great pictures in this post.