Like most of the tourists, I went to Peru mainly to see Machu Picchu. I have always been fascinated by this striking, inspiring, yet mysterious 15th-Century Inca site built 2,430 metres (7,970 feet) above sea level, and decided that this should be one of the must-see places. I was deeply impressed with the incredible wisdom of the Inca people.

Besides the culture and history, Peru also has awesome landscape to offer. From the Sacred Valley to La Raya Mountain Pass, the sceneries are spectacular. I arrived in Peru at night and did not see anything from the plane before landing. But when I left, it was in the morning, and when I looked at the magnificent Andes mountain range that passes through Peru, the lovely Peruvian song "El Condor Pasa" still echoed in my mind.

The Condor of the Andes is waking
To the light of a majestic dawn
He slowly spreads his wings
Flying down to the blue river below
Where he passes
The earth will be covered with greenness, love and peace
Where he passes
The branches will flourish
And the cornfield will be coated with sunshine

This is not from the lyrics of the version sung by Simon and Garfunkel. I just tried to translate it from the original version in Spanish, written in praise of the beauty of the Andes.

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