Traveling to Machu Picchu required a return to Ollantaytambo to catch the train.  On our way there, we stopped to visit a woman who makes Chicha (corn beer), a very popular fermented beverage in the region, especially since regular beer is not sold in local stores.  She sells a large glass of corn beer at her bar for 50 cents and strawberry corn beer for $1. 

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

We learned about the process of making the beer, which begins by removing corn from the cob and spreading it out on plastic sheets.  Water is added, and then it is packaged up, covered, and placed in a cool shady spot to ferment for three days.  After tasting both flavors, we all agreed it was, uh, an acquired taste.  But if you go to Peru and want to buy some, just look for a Chicheria.  If it is available for sale, there will be a red flag on a stick out in front of the store.

At the bar, the favorite activity while drinking corn beer is playing Sapo, a coin toss game:

Our group continued back to Olantaytambo, arriving early enough for Raul to take us on a walking tour of the town before boarding our train.  We had previously hiked the ruins and saw the craft market, so Raul took us through other areas of the village where we could see how the locals live and meet a few along the way.

The train ride to Machu Picchu was beautiful, gradually becoming more tropical as we got closer.  What a spectacular day!  Our research on Machu Picchu had left us with very low expectations for good weather, since we had learned it is often foggy (or rainy) with anywhere from low to no visibility.  We figured our luck had to run out at some point.  Except for the rain we had in Lucerne, Switzerland, back in May, we had experienced unbelievably fantastic weather during our travels this year.  Surely, we would arrive in Machu Picchu and see… nothing. 

But we didn’t!  When we disembarked the train in town, the sky was blue and full of beautiful “Simpson” clouds (named after the white cartoon cumulus clouds that appear at the beginning of “The Simpsons” TV show.)  Glorious!

Next step in the journey:  Hop on a bus and head up the hairpin switch-back road to the ruins!  We were almost there!

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Machu Picchu is a 15^th-century Inca citadel that was built on a mountain ridge at an elevation of 7,970 ft—a piece of cake to negotiate after adjusting to the higher altitude of Urubamba. 

This was our first glimpse of the mountain view before we saw the ruins:

We learned a great deal of fascinating information and history about the Incas and Machu Picchu during our late afternoon visit (as well as during our return visit the following morning).  I will spare you the details, however, and just share my pictures instead.

Next up: PERU #11: MORE MAGNIFICENT MACHU PICCHU!