A crowd of about 200 congregated around the bottom of the gates and we all waited, somewhat impatiently, to be let it. About 5:00 a.m., the authorities allowed us to begin out one-hour trek straight up the large stone steps leading to the ancient Inca ruin. In the dark sky all you could see were the bobbing of headlamps and the hiker directly in front of you. All you could hear was the eerie, heavy panting of hikers struggling to continue their journey. I was swept along by the energy of this long line of hikers, united together in the common purpose of reaching Machu Picchu before dawn broke over the mountains and it was this energy which gave me the strength and endurance to complete the excursion. Our resolve and fortitude increased as we passed many hikers half our age bent over, trying to catch their breath.
Dawn arrived about two-thirds of the way up and we were graced by a chorus of birds and as I gazed back into the sky, the beauty of the grey-silhouetted Andes. Exhilarated, I entered the Lost City and was struck by the air of grandeur and mystery this ruin still retains. San Dennis let us to a private grassy terrace where the seven of us watched the sun burst forth over the Andes and cast new light on this magnificent scene. For the rest of the day, we toured, explored, and hiked this spectacular archaeological site, revelling in the highlight of our trip.
When time tore us away from Machu Picchu, we returned to Aguas Calientes for another great meal and then caught the train back to Cusco. With the glass ceilings in the train, the panoramic views of the mountains were awe-inspiring. As Peter Frost states in his guidebook, this journey by train from Aguas Calentes to Cusco is without a doubt one of the most spectacular in the world.
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