The Earth + Nat

Sunrise over Machu Picchu Many historical sites claim to be spectacular. You've probably seen a lot of pictures of people in front of the Tower of Pisa, or the Colosseum, or Chichen Itza . But one thing I have found about most of these kinds of places is that the hype has far outpaced the reality. Too many times I have approached a world famous history site only to leave disappointed. As someone who likes to get away from the crowds and the beaten track, I have usually found that the less known sites have far greater value than the tourist traps. I have only two exceptions to that rule: The Great Wall of China, and Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu is just extraordinary, filled with an unimaginable sense of wonder and occasion. The feeling of watching the sun rise between the noble peaks of the lower Andes, burning away the wreath of mist from the ancient stones, was simply magical. The sense of tangible history, the sheer amount of things to see and places to go in the area, and...