Silver Penny Artisans: WANDERLUST WEDNESDAY~~~Machu Picchu

     I seem to be drawn to UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) World Heritage Sites (http://whc.unesco.org).

   "In 1945, UNESCO was created in order to respond to the firm belief of nations, forged by two world wars in less than a generation, that political and economic agreements are not enough to build a lasting peace. Peace must be established on the basis of humanity’s moral and intellectual solidarity.

     UNESCO is known as the "intellectual" agency of the United Nations. At a time when the world is looking for new ways to build peace and sustainable development, people must rely on the power of intelligence to innovate, expand their horizons and sustain the hope of a new humanism. UNESCO exists to bring this creative intelligence to life; for it is in the minds of men and women that the defences of peace and the conditions for sustainable development must be built."

   That being said, this week's post is about Machu Picchu! I can't wait to get there.

MACHU PICCHU

The ancient city of Machu Picchu is one of the world’s best known archaeological sites.

Machu Picchu is an Incan fortress set high in the Andes Mountains of Peru. It was built in the 15th century. It is renowned for its sophisticated dry-stone walls that fuse huge blocks without the use of mortar; intriguing buildings that play on astronomical alignments; and breathtaking panoramic views. Its exact former use remains a mystery.

" Machu Picchu stands 2,430 m above sea-level, in the middle of a tropical mountain forest, in an extraordinarily beautiful setting. It was probably the most amazing urban creation of the Inca Empire at its height; its giant walls, terraces and ramps seem as if they have been cut naturally in the continuous rock escarpments. The natural setting, on the eastern slopes of the Andes, encompasses the upper Amazon basin with its rich diversity of flora and fauna." (UNESCO)

panoramic view of the residences

Wikipedia.org

The following is travel advice from National Geographic (http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/world-heritage/machu-picchu/)

"When to Visit

Mountain archaeologist and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Johan Reinhard offered this tip on how to escape the crowds that typically fill the site by midday. “I traditionally climb to the top of a nearby peak with a pack lunch and wait till the crowds are gone,” he wrote in National Geographic Traveler.

How to Visit

For the fit there is simply no substitute for traveling to Machu Picchu the way the Inca themselves did—on foot. Today the Inca Trail winds through the mountains and along the path of the ancient royal highway. More than 75,000 people make the trip each year and along the way experience some of the associated sites that were part of the Inca network in this area.

It’s no longer possible to do the trek independently. Due to heavy use (and subsequent environmental impact) the trail has become heavily regulated. Visitors must sign up with an organized group to tackle either the classic four-day route or a recently added two-day option."

Now the teasers....