A mind that is stretched by a new experience, can never go back to it’s old dimensions

-Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.

I believe in that quote.  The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu was an incredible experience, and left me humbled and grateful for the opportunity.

The Inca Trail itself is a trail built by the Inca empire over 500 years ago.  This is only a small portion of a series of trails that spread throughout South America.  The trail is a 4′ wide path, paved with rocks of varying shape and size.  This portion of the trail traverses through the mountains and leads to several temples along the way.  Incan temples are not elaborate buildings, but open-air, outdoor spaces with stunning vistas.

Certain rocks along the path are made of serpentine or quartz, rocks that the Incan people believed brought physical and emotional healing.  I carefully chose each step, trying to only step on the ‘special’ stones.  With each step, I felt knots of stress untie.  My mind wandered and kilometers passed.  A metaphor for life I thought: choose each step carefully and purposefully, pause and appreciate the beauty around you, don’t worry if you miss a step there are plenty more to take.

Amazing how all of the Incan temples are designed with Astrology in mind.

Open air temples were all the rage back then

My gift to Mother Earth

Taking a quick break

Head in the clouds

I loved all of the different moss and microenvironment along the trail.

I arrived at this temple after the longest day of hiking. Alone, the only person soaking in this gorgeous view and overlooking these ruins. It was the most magical part of the trek for me. Infinitely better than Machu Picchu, which is overrun by tourists.

I stormed into Machu Picchu, the first off the Incan Trail. Covered in dirt, sweat and blood. I was greeted by a dozen Chinese tourists, freshly showered, dressed in clean clothes and smelling so clean. I had a few minutes of quiet to appreciate the view, but the city gets overrun by tourists and guides very quickly.