The mountains are larger than I ever thought; much larger. The rivers are much more rapid and youthful than I thought; much more so. And the Inca ruins are much more monumental and mystifying than I thought; yes, much more. Passing towns, smelling the local smells of firewood burning and fresh Andean air, and absorbing with amazement the constantly unrolling landscapes, this day was a new day to me in all the power of the word ¨new¨.
Seeing the llamas, alpacas and vicuñas up close made me all the more fall in love with these special animals. The vicuña with its slender neck and legs, streamlined body and child-like face, was an embodiment of wildness, beauty, and vigor. The alpacas swept the ground with their long ¨dreads¨; incredible creatures. The llamas were much taller than I had ever thought. Their harmonious and muscular bodies were clearly suitable for carrying burden for the Peruvian people, both present and past.
Ollantaytambo impressed beyond words. This Inca stronghold and its adjacent town, conserving the most intact Inca urban layout was a marvel. The stronghold dominated gargantuan scenery. Three mighty valleys joined together at the place, and powerful winds swept air from distant mountains, mightily beating upon the Inca walls. The strategic placing of Ollantaytambo can be compared to the fictious placement of Helms Deep in Lord of the Rings; such was the grandeur of this place, even greater than that of the fortress in the movie.One other thing among a myriad of impacting sights was the night view of the Urubamba River. As we got to our hotel in Aguas Calientes, I went into one of the rooms for Andres had told me to see something. Approaching the window I felt the immense vibrating and roar of something impressive. Indeed, in the darkness right below the hotel window, the wild and rushing Urubamba river roared, sweeping its waters over giant boulders, having carved itself over eons a memorable place among towering stone walls of mountains. Unforgettable.
-Konrad
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