Learning More About Peru and Machu Picchu

Before I travel thousands of miles to a destination, I like to read up on some of the history of the country I'm going to visit, as well as Tivo and watch any television specials that occasionally show up on stations like the History, Travel, and Discovery Channels. I find that this at the very least supplements the information I get from a guide and often times supersedes it.

For my trip to Peru and Machu Picchu, I chose to read the book The Last Days of the Incas by Kim MacQuarrie, and I don't think I could have found a better book. Not only is the history surrounding the conquest of the Incan Empire by Francisco Pizarro and company fascinating, MacQuarrie spins it into a fast-paced novel full of intrigue that should be turned into a movie or an HBO mini-series. While we all know the ultimate outcome, you can't help but root for the Incas.

In addition to the Spanish conquest of Peru, MacQuarrie also delves into the discovery of Machu Picchu and Vilcabamba, the last holdout of the Incas. The discoveries are equally interesting and also fraught with controversy. The book has its own website, and Mr. MacQuarrie also has a fascinating blog on Peru.

As always, for more information of Machu Picchu, you can check out the section on my website. Also do you like to read up before a trip, or do you prefer to learn on the fly -- relying on either a guide or a guidebook? Weigh in on the comment section, I'd love to hear people's thoughts.

Dangerous Travel Destinations

The USA Today recently took a look at dangerous travel destinations, including Iraq, North Korea, and Afghanistan. While none of the destinations have any sites that would top my list to visit (unless Babylon was significantly restored), a fourth destination not listed in the article, Iran, has some more tempting options. Unfortunately, it's not a place that is likely to see too many Western tourists.

However, armchair travelers can get a glimpse of Iran and Persepolis in this month's National Geographic print and online editions. Persepolis looks like a pretty amazing site with a rich history. The Persian Empire was one of the greatest of antiquity, but, at least in the U.S., it seems more known for its failed attempt to conquer Greece after the Battle of Thermopylae or as one of Alexander the Great's conquests.

Travelers interested in ancient Middle East history can also check out the Pergamon Museum in Berlin. The museum houses a number of large, impressive objects, including the famed Ishtar Gate of Babylon. It's also a lot safer than visiting the replica currently constructed at the site of Babylon in modern-day Iraq. For now, armchair travelers should check out both the USA Today and National Geographic articles.

What to Do Following the Trip

The Star-Telegram had an interesting article on Friday about preserving memories after you return from your travels. Creating a blog or website wasn't among the suggestions, but I think it's another good idea.

The article gives a small list of dos and don't to incorporate mementos from you trip into your everyday life. I personally enlarge a few photos I've taken of the top sites I've visited and have them professionally framed. I then hang them up throughout the house. My wife creates scrapbooks with pictures and other mementos, such as admittance tickets.

Anyway check out the article, it has some good ideas to help you re-live some great experiences.

Hiking the Great Wall

The Dallas Morning News today took a look at a six-day walking tour of the Great Wall offered by a Canadian-based tour company called World Expedition. The hike includes the popular Mutianyu section as well as the less-visited Simatai section. In between hiking, you get to visit local families. The tour looks like a fun, unique experience.

Along with Machu Picchu, the Great Wall is one of the best world wonders for hikers. Of course, both can be enjoyed by less physically fit travelers, but there is a certain sense of accomplishment that goes along with these more adventurous endeavors.

Having been to the Simatai section of the Great Wall in May, I have to say it's pretty magnificent how it clings to the mountain slopes. The fact that it's only modestly restored and not teeming with other tourists are two other big pluses. While I was thinking of doing the trek to the Jinshanling section, I decided against, instead traversing the steep eastern section of the wall – still a very exhilarating experience. While this is a great section to visit, it's best for physically travelers who aren't afraid of heights. You can take a ski lift half way up to reach the Wall, but you'll have to work for the rest of it.

With the Olympics coming up, there's sure to be plenty more articles out there on the Great Wall and other Chinese wonders that I'll cover. For now, take a look at the Great Wall section of my website.

New Angkor Museum Reviewed

The Bangkok Post yesterday took a look at the fairly new Angkor National Museum, the first modern museum in the city of Siem Reap near the magnificent ruins of Angkor Wat. This world wonder and the area surrounding it have become much more accessible and tourist friendly after the demise of the Khmer Rouge in 1999.

With looters and civil war taking its toll on the temple complex, the new museum looks to show visitors what it looked like in its glory days. It also brings many of the surviving artifacts back closer to the site instead of being stored away in Cambodia's National Museum in Phnom Penh.

While the new museum has its critics, it looks like a nice addition for tourists that should only add to the experience. Check out the article, as well as the Angkor Wat section on my corresponding World's Top Wonders website and feel free to make any remarks in the comment section.

New UNESCO Sites Announced

UNESCO announced today that it has added 27 new sites to its World Cultural List, including 19 cultural sites. For travelers who have already seen a lot of the world's top wonders, or are looking for nearby sites to some of the major attractions they are traveling to, UNESCO's list is a good place to start. The list includes 878 sites in 145 countries. The newest additions include the first inscribed sites in Vanuatu and Saudi Arabia.

USA Today has an article on the newest UNESCO additions and the UNESCO website gives details and pics on each new site. Check out the links for more info.

First Post -- Trip to Machu Picchu

I'm starting this blog to go along with my new World's Top Wonders website. I just got back from visiting Peru and, of course, Machu Picchu. The site's dramatic setting definitely puts it in the top-ten man-made world wonders and is what really sets it apart from other contenders.

The trip was kind of last minute, but the travel agency I went through, CAT, did a top-notch job. A two-day strike less than two weeks before I left that cut off travel to Machu Picchu and other sites had me a little worried ahead of time, but everything went off without a hitch and everyone I met was extremely friendly. Apparently boulders were pushed onto the train tracks at some spots, making passage to the site impossible unless you had big bucks to afford a helicopter ride to the Aguas Caliente, the town right below the archaeological site. After missing out on going to Tibet and seeing the Potala Palace earlier this year because of protests, making it to Machu Picchu brought with it some relief to go along with excitement.

The most surprising part of the experience was how many other tourists were lined up for the first bus to the site at the Aguas Caliente station before 5:30 A.M. in the morning. I was expecting a decent crowd, but not 22 bus loads. If you go, make sure to wake up even earlier to get on one of the first ones. Many of the early risers are looking to climb Huayna Picchu, the picturesque mountain seen behind the site in photos (it is linked to the site). The climb is limited to the first 400 people in line, and people are split into two groups of 200 each, with the first starting at 7:30 and the second group starting at 10:00 AM.

Fortunately for me, I was one of the last people in the first group after snapping some classic post-card pics from the agricultural sector. Huayna Picchu is a fairly tough climb, and I'm in decent shape, but it was well worth it for the spectacular view. Although how tough it is a matter of perspective I guess, as I did see a couple of ten-year old girls make the climb too.

More later.