Our group descended the last 1,000 feet from the Sun Gate and passed through a portal of stone into the Machu Picchu Sanctuary. Over 500 stone buildings on different levels came into view. A marvel of mortar-free architecture perched up on a high plateau above the Amazon jungle. Despite the fact it was built hundreds of years ago and sits on a fault line, it still stands today. The temples were located in the upper section and the warehouses in the lower.

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     As tempting as it was to immediately start exploring the site, other things were on everyone's mind.  After hiking through the Andes for 5 days with only a bowl of hot water in the morning to wash up, our minds turned to a hot shower, lunch, and a cocktail to celebrate our arrival. The trip included 2 nights at the exclusive Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge. The only hotel located right on the Sanctuary grounds. All other hotels were a 30-minute bus ride down the mountain in the town of Aquas Caliente. This afforded us the luxury of not having to leave the grounds and in the morning having the site all to ourselves before the tourists arrived on the trains to take the buses up to the site. We all headed for the Lodge.

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     In the evening, the group gathered at the lodge for a wonderful dinner. The next day was to be our last day and night at Machu Picchu. The high point of our trip was coming to an end. We all talked about the next day's plans to explore the sanctuary. The following morning, we would all board a bus for the journey down the mountain to catch the train back to Cusco for overnight, fly back to Lima the next morning, and catch onward flights home.

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     The dinner was over and the group just about to break up, when Holly, our trip leader, asked for everyone's attention. "The only opportunity anyone has to see the sunrise over Machu Picchu is if you are staying in this hotel on the sanctuary grounds or if you hike the Inca Trail and time your arrival at the Sun Gate just right", she said. I have a special surprise for everyone but you all have to meet me at the watchman's hut before the sun rises

tomorrow morning. That's the stone building on that elevated plateau near the stone portal we passed through to enter the sanctuary. The one with the straw roof and the 3 stone windows", she explained. "Make sure you dress warm and take a flashlight to find your way. Don't worry there will be plenty of time after the sun rises to get back to the lodge to shower and enjoy breakfast", she said smiling.

 

     The Andes get cold at night and everyone arrived in the dark at the watchman's hut bundled up. The horizon started to lighten and the sun started to rise. As the sun was about to break past the peak of the mountain, holly switched on some background music and filled in with her Pan Flute-playing "The lonely Shepard" as the sun filled the sanctuary. It was truly a surreal moment. There is only one way to describe the experience.

                                 

                                                 TRANSFORMATIVE

                                                   Thank You, Holly

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     I have tried my best to recreate it below with another musician playing the same song.

                                                        Enjoy