I wanted to start the story of my six-month overland journey around Latin America, but ran out of time. So, to whet your appetite here are two photos from Peru. The first is of Machu Picchu, which is possibly the most wonderful place I have ever seen. The second is of the Inca fortress of Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. These are magnificent, but melancholy places as they represent the last stand of the Incas as they were driven towards extinction in the rain forest by the invading Spanish conquistadores.
Now might be a good time to click the links in My Favourite Films list, which you'll find down on the left: you might discover a hidden gem. Because tommorow there is going to be a lot more for you to read.
Breathtaking and on my wishlist of places to go.
ReplyDeleteJeannette, Machu Picchu will not disappoint you. One thing that surprises people is just how big it is. It took me five hours to walk round it all. The location is stunning.
ReplyDeleteOne day... Thanks for the dream...
ReplyDeleteLove the pictures. I hope to go there one day!!
ReplyDeleteDid you take these pictures from a lookout point?
At Machu Picchu there is a special place,called the Caretaker's Hut, which all of the local guides will take you to, and it's where eveybody takes their classic Machu Picchu picture. I just decided to climb a bit higher up than that to a deserted place where suddenly all of the buildings clinging to the side of the mountain came into view.
ReplyDeleteAt Ollantaytambo, I was just lucky to get a special lighting effect from an impending thunderstorm.
This was where I was thiking about going this summer but decided on Thailand and Vietnam instead. It looks gorgeous. I will have to make it out there next year. What a life you have! I love traveling.
ReplyDeleteWow, if tomorrow's photos are as stunning as these (that first one in particular) then South America is going to *rocket* up my must-visit list :)
ReplyDeleteHow gorgeous. This place is also on my wish list. I can´t wait to read more! Hey Ian, thanks for all your comments. How did you know I was hopeless with all things involving a computer?...Un big beso!-Jane
ReplyDeleteyou are very very talented. i love your work, i love photos and looking at your work is very inspiring. keep it up Ian. I'm a fan now. =)
ReplyDeleteOver from Passive and Aggressive. Amazing pictures. I love seeing the places you have been.
ReplyDeletewww.whenpigsfly.squarespace.com
¡Hola Ian! I´m Sara, Jane´s daughter. She was showing me the pictures of Machu Picchu. I also love to travel. I´m 15 and I´ve visited 7 countries, 10 if you count airports. I´m catching up to you! (at least trying to.)
ReplyDeleteYou certainly are catching up on me, Sara, because when I was 15 I hadn't visted a single foreign country.
ReplyDeleteI have chills looking at those pictures! I will be following you so I can vicariously travel around the world...
ReplyDeletethis is just awesome :) I will definitely remember Machu Picchu and include this must travel in my bucket list :)
ReplyDeleteI visited Machu Picchu 42 years ago on my way home from spending 2 years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Brazil. Although it is hard to choose a favorite place, it was my best-loved place on earth. (I used to say Salvador was my favorite city in Brazil, but I returned there, in August 2011, after 42 years, and was disappointed.) After visiting Iguaçu Falls, they may be tied with Machu Picchu.
ReplyDeleteI just finished reading Mark Adams' "Turn Right at Machu Picchu" about the author's attempt to follow in Hiram Bingham III's footsteps, combined with the history of the Incas, and Bingham's exploits in Peru. Since I visited M.P., I've read much about it and the Incas over the years. However, I learned a lot from this book. It was not only informative but entertaining ---laugh-out-loud funny.