“On a globe it looks like a swollen California. Within that space, though, are twenty-thousand-foot peaks, the world’s deepest canyon (twice as deep as the Grand Canyon), unmapped Amazon jungle and the driest desert on earth.”
The book talks about the author’s weeks long trek to Machu Picchu and other Inca sites around Cusco, retracing the steps of the explorer Hiram Bingham III who first brought Machu Picchu to world renown in the early 1910s. Interspersed with the experiences of the author is the description of the journey undertaken by Bingham, as read from his meticulously kept journals in the Yale library. The author also takes care to talk in detail about the history of the Incas and the Spanish conquest around the 1500s. All these together constitute a book that is not just a travelogue, but moves towards the territory of history.
I loved the way he narrated the three timelines without causing any confusion whatsoever. I was left in wonder thinking about the mysteries surrounding Machu Picchu and it’s sister sites, and also about the Inca’s architectural prowess. The books also talks about the various controversies and political tug-of-war surrounding the site. The description of the people and their way of life is also very well written.
The book is hilarious, descriptive, thrilling and wanderlust-inspiring. It is meticulously researched, as well as fun to read. The author even managed to bring suspense into it. I couldn’t have asked for anything more. Really satisfied with my choice for #booxploringtheworld Peru.
P.S: I did some quick calculations and found that if I read 1 book from 1 country each month it’ll take more than 16 years to complete this challenge.😅 By that time there may be some new countries created and some countries gone. So I’ve renamed #196countries196books to #booxploringtheworld.
booksandtheopenroad.travel.blog 