Day #4 - Part II

After all our hikes, we met back together to have lunch and then on to our tour of Machu Picchu.  We learned a lot about this amazing place.  Did you know that more than 50% of the construction of this place is underground?  Foundations, water canals, etc. account for this.  It probably took years of planning for this architectural achievement.  The city was more than likely a religious and educational center for the Incas.  The Incas were so thoughtful in there building, they always made sure religious temples had light shining through windows onto certain places one day a year (and usually for a short period, at Ollantaytambo it is 18 minutes) - the winter solstice.  It was important to there religion so they planned everything around these little details.  We really enjoyed all the learning we did.  Though Easton's main concern was how many llamas we could see.  Good thing there wasn't a shortage!

We got to see one one of our family's good friends while there.   It happened that they were there the same two days we were.  How cool is that?  

These are "mirrors" to watch the skies, astronomy was a big deal to the Incas.

For pretty much the whole trip Mason's responsibility was this water bottle hip holder.  He did not complain once, every morning he just put it on and kept track of it and those two water bottles he is holding.  Mark and Mason were also the bag carriers.  We moved around a lot, so I had the backpack and they took the two duffel bags.  Dallin and Drew did their part too.  We worked pretty well together considering how much it took to make sure this family of six was all together.  You have to know that we were a novelty on this trip.  There weren't a lot of children, especially Easton's age and definitely not a lot of big families.  I was a pretty proud mom of these boys and how well they did.  It was tiring, we hiked, we walked, we were in the high altitude, and they did it.  

So for our own memories I added this.  This is when Mason bravely saved the lens cap cover that went overboard.  

In the rainy season, the king's body was brought here from Cusco to be kept  in this open tomb (they believed death wasn't an end, but a beginning to a new life so they would keep the kings bodies).  They would make a blanket of bat's wings to cover the body with.

Life is now complete...we have had a family picture with a llama.