“One, two, three, four.” I counted the seconds it took for the dislodged cliff rock to plummet from the narrow, curving road I was traveling on.
I was on a bus headed 7,970 feet above sea level to Peru’s iconic Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. The journey had been an extensive one, involving a six-hour flight from Miami to Lima, followed by another 90-minute flight to Cusco and a subsequent three-hour train ride to the Andean town Aguas Calientes. Now, only the precarious 30-minute bus trip separated me from the ancient Incan citadel and I was struck by the realization that it might easily be the bus tumbling down and not a rock on the next bend in the road.
The packed bus buzzed with anticipation and unease. The dirt mountain road grew narrower and more twisted, with more stones tumbling as it progressed. Then it halted, mid-turn, the brakes screeching in response to a blaring horn. Another tour bus, equally crowded, headed down the mountain, frightfully reminding me that this was a two-way road.
A large part of travel is the journey and how that often translates to pushing oneself out of one’s comfort zone. My mind wandered to past adventures: navigating the treacherous Pan-American Highway, considered one of the most dangerous roads in the world, for a glimpse of Cotopaxi — Ecuador’s majestic volcano; scaling down bat-infested cliffs to reach Venezuela’s remote and breathtaking beach, Playa Mayorquina; canoeing for eight days along the Carrao River to reach the base of Angel Falls; braving a turbulent helicopter ride to Kongde Ri’s 20,299-foot peak for a life-altering view of Mount Everest. Each journey had been a rollercoaster of emotions — exhilaration, fear, triumph and awe that were as equally meaningful as the final reward.
In a herculean display of skill, the two buses miraculously maneuvered past each other and I resumed the dizzying ascent. With every heart-pounding turn, Machu Picchu drew closer, a steadfast reminder of the extraordinary prize that awaited. When I stood before the ancient wonder later that day, the all-encompassing experience of getting there made the moment all the sweeter. Yes, Machu Picchu’s beauty is truly magnificent, but the expedition was as important, reinforcing the idea that life’s greatest rewards often lie just beyond the borders of fear and uncertainty.
Happy Reading,
Alona Abbady Martinez
alona@bocaratonobserver.com