Yep unlike the Incas who walk, I hired a professional driver (cab) to take me to three important Inca sites in the Sacred Valley: Ollantaytambo; Moray; Chinchero.
I figured it to be a tiring day with lots of climbing and walking. I made my first visit to Ollantaytambo a magnificant fortress and ceremonial site where the Inca's put a hurting on the Spanish. One of the few battles they one.
My driver Cellio took about an hour and a half to arrive. As soon as we arrived, a guide approached me for an hour tour. He was a young man with as bad English as I was in Spanish skills. We settled on a price of 40 solas the equivalent of about 12 bucks.
I saw the climb and wondered how I would make it with the altitude issue affecting me.
I did not come all this way to wuss out now. I figured, I would just go more turtle slow that I usually do. The good thing is Incas build on terraces. This was so they could plant different crops at different altitudes and temperatures. These terraces provided a welcome place to pull away from the steep stone stair climb and relax a bit. My guide about 23 years old looked out for me and made sure I was well rested. He gave me the feeling that I was old and not in shape but that it is normal for tourist not use to the altitudes to rest more. He continued his lectures while we rested and pointed out various structures and facts.
I did finally make it to the top. We stopped into the temple of the moon, looked and the wonderful architecture of stone building without mortar or cement. I have included and number of photos showing how the stones were hand cut to groove in place with the surrounding stones. On the top, we the most famous temple, The Temple of the Sun
I figured it to be a tiring day with lots of climbing and walking. I made my first visit to Ollantaytambo a magnificant fortress and ceremonial site where the Inca's put a hurting on the Spanish. One of the few battles they one.
My driver Cellio took about an hour and a half to arrive. As soon as we arrived, a guide approached me for an hour tour. He was a young man with as bad English as I was in Spanish skills. We settled on a price of 40 solas the equivalent of about 12 bucks.
I saw the climb and wondered how I would make it with the altitude issue affecting me.
I did not come all this way to wuss out now. I figured, I would just go more turtle slow that I usually do. The good thing is Incas build on terraces. This was so they could plant different crops at different altitudes and temperatures. These terraces provided a welcome place to pull away from the steep stone stair climb and relax a bit. My guide about 23 years old looked out for me and made sure I was well rested. He gave me the feeling that I was old and not in shape but that it is normal for tourist not use to the altitudes to rest more. He continued his lectures while we rested and pointed out various structures and facts.
I did finally make it to the top. We stopped into the temple of the moon, looked and the wonderful architecture of stone building without mortar or cement. I have included and number of photos showing how the stones were hand cut to groove in place with the surrounding stones. On the top, we the most famous temple, The Temple of the Sun
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