Machu Picchu

The first 2 pictures were of Ollantaytambo, which was just outside of Urubamba - our overnight stay. We then went by train and bus to Machu Picchu.



This was the Urubamba river - apparently not very full! According to the locals.



We finally made it to the site around 1.30pm and spent the rest of the afternoon touring the site and climbing up and down seemingly endless flights of stairs.


This large stone at the base of the wall has a total of 26 angles!! and is a single block of granite.








I went to the very top of the site and got these great views - the weather was remarkably clear, considering it is the rainy season. It was the first day in a week that it had not rained.

Cusco and the Sacred Valley

We flew from Lima to Cusco and had a short walk around the main square before setting off for Urubamba and the Sacred Valley.


On the way we saw many of the houses with these small statues on the roof, which are apparently for good luck.



These children were in the local market at Pisac, which was on the way to Urubamba.

After reaching Urubamba this was the view at night. Nearly a full moon.

Lima

We arrived in Lima after docking in Valparaiso and flying from Santiago. Chilled out for most of the time and did a quick tour of the city today on the way to Cusco. The old city is very interesting, with all the Spanish colonial history.

Not sure how the coastline will stand up to the weather, as it it is made up of sand and rocks from glacial moraine.

Puerto Montt

Puerto Montt is an area/town in, Chile, which was settled by migrants from Germany in the 1800's and it shows in the architecture.

The area is also very picturesque, with mountains and lakes everywhere.

We had a very pleasant day touring to one of the lakes and the Petrohue falls.

Once again we were blessed with exceptional weather - the trip has been very lucky in this regard as the areas we have travelled through are subject to very rapid and severe weather changes.

Castro - Isla Chiloe

This was a very picturesque town with a very unusual church made from wood internally and clad with pressed metal sheets and there are about 150 of this type of church all over the island.

Lots of very colourful houses but a little run-down. Charming, nonetheless.