Ollantaytambo

A very impressive series of stone terraces leads one to the top of the mountain at Ollantaytambo.

At times, almost like switch backs on a mountain trail, the path winds back and forth eventually taking one to the mountain top.

Steps everywhere one goes!  The Inca must have had great hearts, what with all the exercise they got going up and down all these steps.

The stone work, I found to be, so impressive.  These stones were cut and placed together about 500 years ago.  The precsion, and the angle of the cuts on the stone amazed me and continues to be something of a mystery to those who study the Inca.

At the very top of the mountain, one finds a number of very large carved stones.  This one  is estimated to weigh about 45 ton.  Where was the quary from which this massive stone was carved?  Check out the next photo...

That 45 ton stone was carved out of a quary on the mountain, opposite the site of Ollantaytambo, brought down the mountain, across a river and then to the top of the mountain from where I too this picture.  How in the world did the Inca do that?  I had trouble just walking up the stairs, having to stop every once in a while to catch my breath.... and all I had with me was a small backpack!

On a mountain facing Ollantaytambo is a mountain in which is the carved face of an Inca king and graineries.  Give the location of these graineries, the wind came though the valley and provided ventilation to keep the seeds and food in very good condition.

At the very base of Ollantaytambo.... the place where the mummies of the Inca nobility (anyone of any importance) were kept.....