rbose@hou2g.UUCP (R.BOSE) (03/22/84)
About a year ago, at a party, I overheard some people talking about a trek upto Macchu Picchu (Peru). I dont remember any further details. It probably entails flying to Cuzco, then a train or bus ride. Has anyone been on such a trip, or has information to give me ? I am interested in going there this summer(winter there). Thanks in advance Ron Bose 949-1453 hou2g!rbose
flinn@seismo.UUCP (E. A. Flinn) (03/23/84)
I send Mr. Bose a long piece of mail recounting my own experiences in visiting Macchu Picchu a few years ago - if anyone else is interested I'll mail them a copy. It's a splendid place, like nowhere else on earth, and if you ever have a chance to go there you should jump at it.
werner@ut-ngp.UUCP (03/23/84)
[ on an empty disk you can seek forever ........ no bugs ] one of the most breath-taking places to go to. You mind wanders, your soul expands, and your intellect wonders. During a full-moon night you become very humble, when you imagine this culture's activities many centuries ago ... Getting there is just as much fun. Cuzco is a very interesting city with many sites to visit, and the train ride to MP is breath-taking. There is also the old Inca-trail taking you several days on foot; recommended only for the ones in very good shape and with an adventurous spirit. A closer place to have a similar experience are the pyramids in Mexico city and Yukatan. Going there is real cheap right now, don't miss it! But MC is my all-time favorite, because people in that area are much more friendly and interesting than nearly anywhere else I have travelled. If you go a little out of the tourist-trodden ways, you should have no problem getting to know some very interesting people.
jerryp@tektronix.UUCP (Jerry Peek) (04/02/84)
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Fly to Cuzco. The train station is a little ways from the airport, but you
shoudln't have any trouble getting a taxi (ask what the fare will be BEFORE
you accept a ride, though). Be prepared for the altitude; don't plan on
exercising too much, but DO spend some time in Cuzco! It's a fascinating
place, though it also can be a turista-trap.
There are two classes of trains. Be sure to take the tourist class -- it's
more expensive, but worth it, unless you enjoy being crammed into a train!
(We saw the standard-price train going by, en-route to Machu Picchu...
there were people hanging off the sides.)
There's a tourist ticket packet available that has a train ticket,
plus a bus ticket to get from the train to the ruins and an admission ticket
into the ruins. Good idea; it saves time and hassles.
Prepare yourself for arrival at the train station in the valley beneath
Machu Picchu (get off the left-hand side of the train). Why? Unless they
have the new tramway finished, the way you get to the ruins is a fleet of
small buses. As soon as the train stops, people will RUN through the station,
to the queues for the buses out back. HURRY! A minute wasted here can lose
you a couple of hours, waiting in the back of the line, that you could be
spending at the ruins. The return train leaves five hours later, so time is
precious.
There's a small hotel at the ruins, but it's booked up way ahead of time.
Bring a lunch; there's a cafeteria, but it's outrageously expensive.
WATCH YOUR WALLET, especially in the Cuzco train station. There are expert
pickpockets.
Enjoy. Machu Picchu is an incredible place. Read up on it before you go,
too... it'll add to the experience.
--Jerry Peek
Tektronix, Inc., Beaverton, OR 97077
503/627-1603
...{allegra,decvax,ihnp4,mit-eddie,ucbvax}!tektronix!jerryp