Bales Geneology

Eastern Sector Leaving the Guardhouse area, we walked down to the control point, and signed out as having completed the Inca Trail (yea!). After making a stop by the bathroom (where there was actually running hot water!) by 8:00 we were back inside the park and for the next couple of hours we got the deluxe tour from Mauro.
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Temple of the Sun In the heart of the Eastern Sector and in a most protected location, accessible by a series of stairways and passages is the Temple of the Sun. The curved walls surround a carved crest of stone that must have been considered highly sacred. The flat surface of the stone lines up with the sunlight passing through the eastern window on the Winter Solstice, June 21st. Through another one of the windows the sun rising on the Summer Solstice (December 21st) is visible through the Sun Gate (Intipunku) (Disclaimer - that is my recollection although I couldn't verify this in any of my outside references.) To see what this looks like, go Here.
	Notice the stairway carved out of the native rock. From this and the view below, you can tell where this structure gets its alternative name: el Torreon, or the Tower. In the photo on the right you have a view of the Sun Temple, the terraces below and the Urubamba River far below. Notice the finely finished walls of the square room just to the right of the Sun Temple. This is commonly known as the House of the Princess and is traditionally considered to be connected to the Royal Residences just across the stairway from the Sun Temple.
Mauro gave us his alternative theory: This room is part of the temple complex and as is found in other places, adjacent to a Sun Temple is a Moon Temple. There is another structure on Huayna Picchu that has traditionally been considered a Temple of the Moon, but since this structure is built more along the lines of living quarters and does not even have an unobstructed view of the skies, Mauro considers this more likely to have been housing for the astronomers that used Huayna Picchu as an observation point. (See that structure Here.)
	Just below the Temple you will find one of the more fascinating spots at Machu Picchu. This is generally referred to as the Tomb of the Princess (or Royal Tomb) although no remains were found here. Its function is not clear but what is clear is that it must have been a place of some importance for the amount of work that went into it. The natural fissure that this made out of has been enlarged and finished with the steps you see here and other sculpted surfaces inside. For me, the hourglass stonework you see at right is the most amazing handiwork you will see... especially considering that the craftsmen had no iron tools. The stonework is so fine that it has a fluid quality, almost seemingly poured into place.

This craftsmanship is also indicative of another common characteristic of the finest Inca structures, a harmony with the natural surroundings, utilizing, conforming to and replicating the natural surroundings in applications both large and small.

Temple of the Condor Downhill from the Temple of the Sun and Royal Residence group is the Temple of the Condor. Here is another example of a structure built upon and incorporating the natural rock formation. In this view you can see the outstretched stone 'wings' of the condor. The flat surface above has a wall with three odd-shaped niches which have holes in the outer corners. This has been variously explained as a place to display mummies or as a place where prisoners were bound. But although this gave rise to the name 'the Jails' it is an unlikely  explanation.

The cave entrance below the 'wing' of the condor in fact leads to some underground chambers below but this area is roped off... Up a number of steps and overlooking the central plaza is the Sacred Plaza...

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[ The Sun Temple at Solstice ]

The Trek to Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu