Peru's Machu Picchu reopens to tourists

[dipsydoodle]

Peru's most famous archaeological site, Machu Picchu, has formally reopened after it was closed for two months.

Hundreds of tourists, including US actress Susan Sarandon, took the train to the 15th-Century Inca ruin - the most-visited site in Latin America.

Heavy rains and landslides at the end of January cut rail access to the site, trapping some 4,000 tourists.

Peru had lost some $200m (£131m) in revenue because of the closure, Peru's tourism minister told the BBC.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8598154.stm

[Judi Lynn]

1. That's good news, hopefully.

Here's a great link posted by L Coyote the Anthropology forum. You probably saw it already, dipsydoodle, but it could be great for others:

Virtual Tour to Machu Picchu:
http://www.mp360.com/index_eng.php

Unbelievably beautiful.

Thanks.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Life on the Edge: The Floating Stairs of Peru

Life on the Edge: The Floating Stairs of Peru


http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com.nyud.net:8090/sites/default/files/images/1_teaser.preview.jpg

Photo: pasto911
The Incas, masterful builders and architects, were fascinated by stairs: their temples looked like giant staircases, farming was done through an elaborate terrace system, they were masters at climbing the steep and narrow Inca trail and invented the floating stairs. Imagine a steep wall with just a few slabs sticking out, stair-like, no handrail of course. Would you trust them, let alone brave them swift and nimbly like the Incas, given the long fall down?

The famous floating Inca stairs:

http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com.nyud.net:8090/sites/default/files/images/2_inca-stairs_0.jpg

Photo: via travelpod
For many, their highlight of a trip to Peru and Machu Picchu in particular is the steep climb up Huayna Picchu, the mountain that overlooks the “Lost City
of the Incas.” Though the climb is steep and often dangerous, the views are worth it: The peak is about 2,720 m (8,920 ft) above sea level and 360 m (1,180 ft) higher than Machu Picchu
. The Urubamba River that bends around it adds to the scenic quality.


Machu Picchu with Huayna Picchu in the background:

http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com.nyud.net:8090/sites/default/files/images/6_huyana_0.jpg

Photo: Christophe Meneboeuf
The Sacred Valley, not far from Machu Picchu, has its fair share of floating steps:

http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com.nyud.net:8090/sites/default/files/images/4_sacred_valley_steps.jpg

Photo: via travelpod
During Inca times, the high priest and his helpers who lived on Huayna Picchu would walk down the steep trail to Machu Picchu before sunrise to signal the coming of the new day. Today, the walk is restricted to 400 visitors per day to avoid crowding on the narrow trail and the peak. For an average fit person, the ascent takes about one hour and includes a steep rock staircase throughout and a narrow tunnel that needs to be braved on all fours towards the end. Then it’s down again. Here’s one description:

“The descent down to the great cave has a few ladders involved including one that's at the bottom of a very narrow cliffside staircase that may be overly frightening for some people. The great cave is quite a bit lower in altitude than the entrance to the Huayna Picchu path so after reaching the great cave, there is another long, tiring ascent.”

Scenic yet scary:

http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com.nyud.net:8090/sites/default/files/images/5_scenic_yet_scary.jpg

http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/cultures/news-life-edge-floating-stairs-peru