Remember last week, when I remarked that Doi Chiang Dao reminded me somewhat of the spectacular mountainous scenery that surrounds the sacred Incan city of Machu Picchu?

Now you will be able to see the comparison as I am posting my very best photograph of Machu Picchu (circa September 2007) in this edition’s travel photo of the week. In my mind, Machu Picchu is “the holy grail” of ancient archaelogical sites - none can truly compare.

I’m sure you’ve seen pictures of this majestic site in various travel magazines and you have probably asked yourself, how can this place be of this world?

Located high in the Peruvian Andes, the vistas from Machu Picchu are truly awe-inspiring. I arrived in the morning shortly before sunrise and the ruins of this holy Incan city were shrouded in a thick mist, taking on an eerie mystical quality. About three hours later, the sun broke through the mist and the magnificence of Machu Pichu was revealed in all its splendor and glory.

If I didn’t know any better, it felt like I was visiting someplace not on this planet Earth. Did extraterrestrials visit the Incas and direct them to build Machu Picchu?

I consider myself very fortunate to have visited Machu Picchu in my lifetime. It was that incredible!