WAYNAPICCHU and finally going home :)

Saturday was our last day in Aguas Calientes, and sadly our last chance to visit Machu Picchu. The first day we took it easy on the hiking so we could rest up for our hike up Wayna Picchu. Saturday morning we caught the bus at 7 AM and made it to the Waynu Picchu entrance right at 8. We barely got in for our scheduled time, so we were the last two people to get in for the first round of hikers. Waynu Picchu, which means “young peak” in Quechuan is actually the higher of the two mountains. It is approximately 2,720 meters above sea level. The top of Waynu Picchu Mountain was said to have been the residency for the high priests and local virgins of the Incan Empire.

                         

The hike up the mountain was very strenuous and definitely a workout. It was very chilly outside, yet we were all drenched in sweat from the steep slopes of the stairs going up to the top. The hike consisted of several stairs and even a few caves! This was very exciting..but also a little bit scary. I’m still not really sure how we made it through. After finally making it to the top, we HAD to take a green towel picture. The view from the top of the mountain was spectacular. We waited up top for about 30 minutes, and then started to make our way back. The hike down may have been has painful as the way up. By the time we got down, the three girls who were left on the site went straight to the buses.

                                          

We also were able to see the site from a completely different view. You could clearly see the shape of the Machu Picchu. There was a definite split between the side of agricultural terraces and the urban city. The Incas constructed the city in the shape of a condor. As you can see from the pictures below, the upper half including the terraces shows vertical symmetry. You can easily make out the wings, and even observe where the head would have been placed. This particular view of the condor  is not as commonly observed.

The ancient condor shape has the upper right corner of the top as the head, with its body turned the opposite way. This is the depiction of the condor in flight. The view from the top of Waynu Picchu, which has recently been discovered, is a profile shot with its wings folded up.

                                   

The guardhouse at the top of the site is also of significance, which could have been used for ceremonial significance. At the middle of the open square by the guardhouse, there contains another rock which slants outward toward the downward slope of the mountain. This would have also been used for more sacrificial purposes.

 Our final days have consisted of traveling and working on our last research paper of the trip. I was very glad to be back in Lima after the unpleasant experiences in the hostel in Aguas Calientes. I'm extremely happy to be returning home tomorrow morning, and can't wait to see all of my friends and family! I'm very grateful for all of the new people I've met on this study abroad program, and will have to keep in touch once everyone returns back to Milledgeville. Peru has been such an unbelievable experience that I will never forget.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huayna_Picchu

http://tampu-tocco.com/en/machu_picchu_architectural_shape.php