Peru -- Primarily Machu Picchu (Dec 2010)

This is looking down the other (west) side of the saddle. That's the same river that flows thru Aguas Calentes, but the portion seen here is upstream of Aguas Calentes. There is a dam in this area and also the rail station just before Aguas Calentes.

When we left Aguas Calentes by train early (VERY early) the next morning, the train stopped at this station, and LOTS of men got on it (but in a different car that we were in -- we apparently had higher class tickets than they did). At the time, I thought they were shift workers from the dam, who had just got off work. However, later learned (partly from talking to Natalie) they were the guides and porters for groups that had been hiking the a Inca Trail (the 2-day or 4-day hikes). After the last night, everyone gets up VERY early. The hikers go on to Machu Picchu to watch the sunrise (if it is not cloudy, rainy, etc.). The porters, guides, etc., take a shortcut (a cutoff from the trail) down to this station and take the train home. Natailie said the last she saw the porters they were running down the hill (carrying large packs and bundles).