Machu Picchu

When I was a little girl, around ten if I am not mistaken, I was watching TV when out of the blue I saw a place that I had seen in my dreams several times. My dad was in the living room with me and I asked him whether he knew the place they were showing, neither he nor I were able to catch the name of the place. I have to go there is what I said to him and he asked me why.

I explained to my dad that I had been then before but I remembered it as if it were in my dreams. My dad just laughed paid no attention to my dreams; he always thought that I had a very fertile imagination. The next day I asked one of my teachers if she could tell me the name of the place. Of course, the teacher didn’t make heads or tails of what I was saying and that was the end of that.

Then fifteen years later, back in Brazil, a friend called me up and asked whether I’d go with her on a trip to Bolivia and Peru. We would be part of a group of Brazilians, fourteen in all. When I saw the travel brochures, I couldn’t believe it. There it was- that place: Machu Picchu.

I realize this might be weird, but I grew up in the US and only had US History and Geography so I was pretty much ignorant when it came to the rest of the world’s history and geography.

Machu Picchu was our destination in July of 1994, a thirty – day backpacking trip through Bolivia and Peru. We took a plane from Sao Paulo to La Paz, Bolivia. The difference in altitude got to me but mostly through headaches and nose bleeds. Luckily I didn’t get sick like some people did that I met on the trip. We went to several places but my favorite in Bolivia was Valle de La Luna. It seemed like a whole different planet.

Photo taken by Meire Marion Vale de La Luna 1994

Photo taken atVale de La Luna 1994

Photo taken by Meire Marion Vale de La Luna 1994

A few days later, we headed to Peru by bus. We watched a World Cup game in a small city called Copacabana in Peru in the only restaurant in the city that had a TV and Brazil won. It felt good to be celebrating in the middle of the small city while the locals applauded.

I also remember a little city called Puno, near Lake Titicaca (another magnificent wonder). There was an island that when I looked at it to me it seemed like a landing place for spaceships. There was also another island where there where cylindrical tombs made from stones 12 - meters tall. At this place you could go into the tombs if you wanted to. However, due to a problem that I have always had, thinking I was too big for certain spots and might get stuck, I didn’t want to go in. My friend did though and when she came out, I was the one who described what she had seen. This was the first strange fact that happened on this trip. How did I know what it was like inside without even going in? Déjà vu?

Photo taken in Puno 1994

Photo taken in Puno 1994 - the spaceship landing area 

Many other things happened during these thirty days worth mentioning, but my focus is to talk about Machu Picchu.

The only preparation that I did to go on this trip was walk in the park every day wearing my hiking boots preparing for the five-day walk in the Andes. I had heard some terrible stories about how terrible and difficult the walk was. I have to admit that I did feel a bit worried about it and for sure I wanted to be physical prepared for the hike and didn’t want me boots to form blisters on my feet.

We started off the hike with a rafting trip for an hour and a half down the Urubamba River to Ollantaytambo where we would spend the rest of the night in tents and bright and early the next morning start hiking the Inca Trail. The rafting trip was filled with emotion and being that I do not know how to swim, I made sure that I did not fall off the raft.

The five –day hike was full of ups and downs. Some ups were: lost five kilos; felt proud of myself for doing something I had never dreamed I could; the tents were set up and food was cooked by the locals, whom we hired to help out; and feeling as if I were going home. Some downs: I was the slowest in the group; I had to deal with my mood swings; the tarantula in the tent; the altitude effect on the lungs and the rain.

Nonetheless, one of the things that I mostly appreciated about being the slowest was being alone with myself and by myself at times while on the trail. I was able to walk and reflect about myself and my life.

On the last day on the Inca Trail,  as I walked I sang over and over again ‘Please celebrate me home’ by Kenny Loggins. While I sang, tears ran down my face as I over looked the corner of the trail and spotted Machu Picchu not so far away.

When I finally reached Machu Picchu, I fell down on my knees and cried. No one could understand what was happening to me but it was such a great feeling of gratitude. I felt deep down inside that I was back home. As the guide explained all the features, I always interrupted him and finished the sentence. It seemed like I knew everything that had happened in that magical place. I guess my attitude irritated the guide because at one point he let out a “yeah, I guess someone did their homework”. The truth is that I had not read a single thing about it. It all came from memory. (This was another weird fact that happened on this magnificent trip).

Photo taken by Meire Marion Machu Picchu 1994

Photo taken in Machu Picchu 1994

Photo taken by Meire Marion -  Machu Picchu 1994

Photo taken by Meire Marion -  Machu Picchu 1994

Photo taken by Meire Marion -  Machu Picchu 1994

Photo taken by Meire Marion -  Machu Picchu 1994

A dream come true? A past life experience? Who knows? All I know is that it was a once in a lifetime moment and I am grateful that I did it.

Photo taken in Machu Picchu 1994

(Written: June 22, 2013- At the time of the trip, there were no digital cameras (at least I didn’t own one), even so, I have over 500 pictures of this trip. The pictures I have posted are pictures of the pictures. )
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