You know the feeling of PUSHING YOURSELF, beyond where you think you can handle it? It's an exhilirating feeling... when you're done. During THE PUSH it can feel like you're crazy for even attempting it, certain at any point you're gonna collapse or burst. Believing in yourself makes it easier.
That's the thought I woke up with this morning... and the image in my mind was the trek to Machu Picchu.
the youngest & oldest trekkers I saw - together (a 10 year old and his grandpa)
After a 4-day trek along the Inca Trail back in April, through rain, wind and sun, with unimaginable ascents and too much weight on my back (carrying over 10 kilos, I empathized with the porters, although they can carry up to 20!), I arrived at Machu Picchu feeling I had worked hard for the beauty before me. After our guide gave us a detailed tour of the grounds, we took a rest, laying in the grass among the well-preserved ruins, listening to the stories of how the British Museum will not return Inca treasures belonging to Peru, in large part because of the corrupt personnel in charge of protecting the country's cultural wealth.
We were then left to explore on our own and meet up later in Aguas Calientes (a nearby town, accessible by bus) for lunch, hot spriings and a train back to Cusco. I went on, taking photos of llamas and vistas and engineering marvels. After exerting what I thought was all the energy I had, I ran into a fellow trekker who said if I went back up to the top gate - where we had passed through that morning, in full cloud cover - I would get the best view/photo of Machu Picchu. UGH, is what I thought. But I did it anyway, and am SO thankful! Not only was it a great spot to relax and imagine the labor and vision that went into erecting this masterpiece, but I was also able to take the "classic shot" of MP. A fitting finale to my 13 1/2 month trip around the world. Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu was on my "life list", of things to do, and see... and I did it. Believing in myself...
I was touched by the pride, kindness and work-ethic of our spectacular guide, Victor MoGollon, with Peru Treks.
