We feel very blessed and spoiled to have a second trip to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu! This was a special treat for many of the mission presidents and their wives who have not traveled here. Even many of the local presidents and their wives have never been here! So we all had a wonderful trip and really enjoyed our time together! We arrived to the Cusco airport, at 11,500 feet high and immediately got on buses to head to the Sacred Valley, which was around 8,000 feet. This was a good plan so we didn't have to adjust to the high altitude!
We arrived at the lovely Tambo Del Inka Hotel, which bordered on the Urubamba River, located in the village of Urubamba. This turned out to be a perfect place for the conference!
These waterfalls were the center of the entrance and set a very relaxed mood for guests.
The first thing I noticed, was the abundance of beautiful fuchsia plants of every variety. Here in the high mountain terrain they can thrive, because the temperature never gets too hot! Enjoy!!!
The hotel lobby was very dramatic and colorful!
The lights and decor were very unusual and wooden beams were every where.
Rhonda Grow, Ann Douglas, Pres. Alan Borg and Pat Borg are some of our favorite friends.
This was our dining room
I took a picture of our second rainfall here in Peru! The first was in the jungle in Iquitos! But the next morning it was sunny and clear for our trip to Machu Picchu!
We are ready for our train trip to Machu Picchu!
We walked to the train on this private trail from our hotel, which had its own train station!
We enjoyed a great train ride to Aguas Calientes!
These are views from the train!
We stopped along the way to pick up extra passengers.
We followed the Urubamba River to Aguas Caliente, where we caught a bus to take us up 17 switchbacks to the entrance to Machu Picchu.
You can see the start of Inca terracing and the lush fertile farmlands!
We have arrived at the train station!
This is Auguas Calientes and we are walking to catch our bus.
Pres. Sean and Ann Douglas are over the Lima South Mission!
Pres. Alan and Pat Borg are over the Lima Central Mission!
This is the town plaza and a great place to wait for our bus.
This is our climb to the top of Machu Picchu!
This path leads to the main entrance!
Our first view of Machu Picchu! Just as breathtaking as the 1st time we saw it! The terraces, gardens, temples, staircases, and aqueducts all have purpose and add majesty to this amazing site!
It's no wonder that this is one of the 7 Wonders of the World!!! The height of the Inca Empire was in 1530 A.D. and was built by the great Inca ruler Pachacuti. Machu Picchu is built on a narrow ridge between Machu Picchu Mountain and Huayna Picchu Mountain at an elevation of 8,040 feet! This is probably the world's best example of architecture integrating with the landscape. It shows us how to build our world around nature, not against it!
This was our group for the tour. Pres. Chris Waddell is the tall one and is an area 70.
The terracing was used to reinforce the landscape and for planting multiple crops! They have discovered crops of pumpkins, squash, tomatoes, peppers, and indigenous tubers like yacon. The larger fields were for raising their herds of llamas, alpacas, and sheep!
We all listened to our guide who was very knowledgable about the Inca civilization and culture!
The Inca irrigation still works today!
A great view of the amazing Inca terracing!
Hope this makes you feel you are standing here!
You can see the Inca doors were built for short dwellers!
A great view of the Guard house!
We were all astonished by the precise foundation blocks and there is not a stone out of place! The round tubular stones were used to latch on the thatched roofs.
What fascinating textures and forms! Once you walk the paths, terraces, and steps on Machu Picchu, you try to imagine what life must have been like here! What a wonderful memory to hold!
This temple is the only structure that has begun to collapse! This site was not completed, and thus the sagging wall. The Inca people left this beautiful place, because they thought the Spanish army was coming to attack them, which they never did! But, wherever the Spanish invaded, they took all the gold and precious metals back to Spain and they would build over the firm foundations of the Incas. It is a great blessing that they never found Machu Picchu!
It is truly amazing that these Inca terrace supports remain in tact!
This llama walked right next to me. Elder Garner is the Executive Secretary for the area presidency and got some great shots, too!
You can see below to the Urubamba River and can get an idea how steep the terracing goes.
This is one of the cook houses! All of these buildings had thatched roofs to protect the people, food, clothing, and personal items.
Steve is pointing out steps carved into one giant stone!
We took one last look through the doors and windows of the Inca civilization and are grateful to have had the blessing of seeing it a second time!
We all returned to Urubamba city and our hotel. The next day we had our last session of the Mission Presidents Conference and enjoyed our delicious last supper all together. Marilyn Cardon and Pat Borg are enjoying the lovely bathroom with real hand towels and fresh Peruvian lilies.
The next morning we prepared to leave for Cusco to fly back to Lima!
Angela Zobrist, Karen Garner, and Pat Borg. We said goodbye to this lovely area in the Sacred Valley and enjoyed our journey and the scenery, back to Cusco!
We left Urubamba and headed back through the beautiful highlands of the Sacred Valley to Cusco!
We also saw many hermanas in their native costumes!
A typical corner and street in these highland villages!
Here, the air is fresh and clean!
A Good Shepherd!
We are getting near Cusco and every hill and valley are full of homes.
This sweet little boy was visiting with us at the airport!
President Douglas and President Rowley took every opportunity to share the Gospel with those standing in line! A great ending to a perfect trip!!!
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