Machu Picchu, PERU

WALKING THE ORIGINAL INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU -- THE FORTRESS CITY OF THE ANCIENT INCA EMPIRE. I am safely back in Cusco after spending 4 days walking the high mountains and some jungle of Peru to eventually on Day 4, arrive at the majestic Machu Picchu. The legendary 'Lost City of Machu Picchu is without a doubt the most important tourist attraction in Peru and one of the world's most impressive archaeological sites. It sits on a mountain site of extraordinary beauty, right in the middle of a tropical mountain forest surrounded by spectacular high mountains. Located on the eastern slope of the Andes Mountains and the upper Amazon basin -- rich in fauna and flora. Built during the 14th and 15 century, the city became depopulated toward the end of the 15th century when the Spaniards arrived to colonize this area. I truly enjoyed this trip very much. In my hiking group were 8 people...a Dutch couple, a (just married) British couple, a German couple, a French guy (who left his wife in Cusco), and myself. We became good friends and had a very enjoyable time together. We hiked with our Peruvian guide (Hipolito) and 6 porters and cooks and waiter and went up very high mountains (up to 4200 meters) and down to tropical valleys. Had 3 meals a day and tea breaks. Slept 3 nights in some interesting camp sites...first night next to a local family´s house....with little piglets, dogs, cat, and chickens (with funny hair-doos) walking under the table while we ate. The first night was extremely cold for me...as my sleeping bag is not fit for the cold weather...was about 5 Celsius and I was very cold all night. Second night we slept at a much higher altitude but I wore 7 layers of clothing at the top and 3 layers at the bottom and 3 pairs of socks. Had some good sleep. The third night was not as cold and I had a good night. Along the way we saw several Inca ruins and our guide told informative stories. Also saw lots of interesting plants and birds....beautiful orchids in abundance. This morning we had to wake at 4am to eat breakfast at 4:40 and leave our camp at 5am to see sunrise over the Machu Picchu ruins....was a fantastic view but quite misty. Spent about 4 hours at the ruins listening to the guide´s stories about life here during 15th century when the Inca Empire ruled this area...and the Spanish invaders destroyed their kingdom to colonize Peru. The afternoon was spent in the nearby town of Agus Calientes for lunch before we returned by train and bus to Cusco...a journey of about 3 hours. Arrived at in Cusco at 8:30pm. I am very tired and need good sleep. Tomorrow morning I am flying to Lima for 2 nights and then down to Santiago (Chile)...again...for 1 night and then to Mendoza in Argentina for 3 nights before returning ...again... to Santiago for 1 night and then fly to Buenos Aires to spend about a month in Argentina (including all the way south to Ushuaia and possibly Antarctica). Peru -- without a doubt now one of my favourite places. The people are nice, very interesting facial features, and nature (fauna, flora, geo) has so much to offer. A very colourful place indeed, despite the rather gloomy red mud brick dusty towns which look so vulnerable to the ever threatening earthquakes in this part of the world. People dress up in the rainbow colours -- cloth woven from the wool of the Llama and Alpaca. No wonder the Inca flag is...the Rainbow Flag. I WILL RETURN TO PERU.