As I've mentiuoned before, I love the pictures of places you've been and things you've done. I just finished looking thru Machu Piccu and a few questions came up.
I've always wished I could have visited there. The mystery of the place astounds me. Did anyone try to explain exactly how those people got there in the first place, to quarry and assemble a stone city? Did anyone try to explain how they were able to hew and shape the stones to fit so closely together? How/where did they live while they were building the city? What did they eat? How about what happened to the people? Did the last family out just load up their wagon, turn out the lights and just ride off into the sunset?
I have visited a few ghost towns in the West, and it always amazes me how everyone just rode away. I try to imagine the last person/family/group riding out. Was it a group? Was one guy left, some old hermit who simply died?
I'm sure you realise, having been there, how hardy the Incans had to be, even tho it really isn't a lot higher than Denver, only being about 2700' higher. Not far from Denver is Mount Evans, at something over 14,000'. The highest paved road in the US goes up there, and when you get out of your vehicle and try to walk around, you find out what "high" really means.
Load this picture, then click on it once it loads to see the full size. Pretty impressive. You have it big enough when you can see Trisha on the left in her white slacks, doing a balancing act on one of the walls.
(j/k)http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... t_dawn.jpg
