Pikamanchu (Macchu Picchu)

This blog is inspired by my Mam, Rose Harman.  Mam, you are the funniest person I have ever known and I love you with all my heart!

(The scene: Barbican Kitchen Restaurant, Plymouth, 2006).  Mam, Jack, Joe, George and Rosie Harman, are finishing a splendid meal and having a conversation about travel and charity work.)

Mam: …anyways, Val is off to Peru to do some charity work.

Joe: Really?  That’s great, why is she going there and what is she doing?

Mam: Well, it’s a sponsored walk.  She’s going to Pikamanchu.

Joe: (leaning a little farther forward as if to hear better) Where did you say Mam?

Mam: She’s going to Pikamanchu.

Joe: Mam, are getting Macchu Picchu and Pikachu from Pokemon mixed up?

(George starts his judder-howl laughter)

Mam: Er, I dunno, I might be, oooh, umm, yeah I think I am – what is that place called again Joe?

 

This (true) story, gets me in fits every time I think of it and so Ems and I took to calling this new 7th wonder of the world, ‘Pikamanchu’ whenever we could.  The Sacred Valley, which is home to this site is an utterly breath-taking place where the Incan empire built their famous ‘Lost City.’  Interestingly, this site is not as ancient as it first appears.  This sprawling micro-metropolis was built without the wheel over a long period during the 15th century, using innovative quarrying, terracing and farming techniques, and abandoned mid-sixteenth century, due to the onslaught of the Spanish. 

We decided against doing the infamous backpacker-passage-of-rites ‘Inca Trail’ as Ems and I have jacked in the hiking days (for now) and instead took the 2 day tour option, happily being ferried around from site to site, without the hardships of trekking.  The photos you see below are only of Macchu Picchu, although we did also visit Pisaq, which is another important archaeological site of the Sacred Valley.

Perhaps the most beguiling and attractive part of Macchu Picchu is not its verdant-green terraces delineating the chalk-grey masonry, but the location.  The city is walled by gargantuan, sheer, green and granite mountains (the large one in the first picture being Huana Picchu) the views of which one never tires.  Our observations also generated a meaningful discussion between Ems, Prebyn (our Norwegian friend and one of the nicest guys I have ever met) about the context of the achievement when compared with the feats of other tribes/countries/races around the world.  Our conclusion seems to be that, as an English citizen, perhaps we should do a little more to champion and appreciate the historical marvels of our own country.  During the period of Macchu Picchu’s construction Sir Francis Drake was circumnavigating the globe, whilst Elizabeth I gave rule to what historians refer to as the golden age of Great Britain.  It dawned on us that Macchu Picchu receives thousands of visitors from all over the world every day, each of them eager to experience this wonderful slice of Incan history and yet, 30 minutes drive from Plymouth (UK) to Dartmoor, and you will find yourself surrounded by the ancient walls of a bronze age hut, which predates Incan history by thousands of years.

My (rather clumsy) point is that Macchu Picchu is a mysterious and wonderful place, one that people fly thousands of mile to see and yet we British are privy to the most wonderful heritage sites of our own; great examples being Tintagel, Windsor Castle, the city of York or the tower of London - the shores and lands of dear Albion thrum with the echoes of the past.  Let us enjoy them.

 

Sunrise at the misty mountain top.

Llamas show their indifference to the tourist droves.

The Temple of the Sun.  The two large windows were stratigically aligned to allow the suns of the summer and winter solstices to shire through.

Another little ray of sunlight shines throught (ok, that was cringeworthy)

Partially obscured Huayna Picchu gazes upon its neighbour, ‘The Lost City’

 

Emma works the angles.

Me and my girl - tuckered out, but happy and enjoying the great views.

PS – special mention to Joe H and Dan Leahy, who were looking forward to our report – we hope you enjoyed it! And also to Mike S, who solved a referencing dilemma I had – love you dude!