A Hike to Remember

FRIDAY:

Terraces at Ollantaytambo Fortress (Friday June 19, 2015)

After eating breakfast in our home-kitchen-feel hostel, we explored the fortress at Ollantaytambo. The first few steps of this not-so-menacing-looking establishment had me under the impression it would be a rather easy hike to the top.

Oh, how wrong I was.

We stopped every few steps to admire the Incan architecture and view of the city of Ollantaytambo. I still find it fascinating how clean-cut the shapes of the stone walls are (using only tools of bronze and rock!), and how much effort must have went into lugging the enormous slabs of granite up the side of this mountain. Apparently, the stones were first carved in the quarries below, then transported from the bottom of the valley to the heights of the mountain by being dragged along on rolls of hard wet wood and incredible man power. It leaves me wondering what their diet consisted of--I doubt it was the nourishment from canned spinach, Popeye.

Temple of the Sun at Ollantaytambo (Friday June 19, 2015)

Top of Ollantaytambo Fortress (Friday June 19, 2015)

Inca Irrigation System at Ollantaytambo (Friday June 19, 2015)

More evidence of a carefully engineered irrigation system could be identified at this site. The Incas collected rain and river water and created tunnels in order to provide fresh drinking water to the Inca nobility that resided in the town and also for the agricultural terraces that still stand today.

The hike proved to be tiresome, sweat-inducing, partially aggravating, and entirely worth it. If my legs didn't feel like the jelly I spread on my toast this morning, I would be willing to do it all again today.