Read Online Turn Right at Machu Picchu Rediscovering the Lost City One Step at a Time eBook Mark Adams

Product details File Size 22186 KB Print Length 353 pages Publisher Dutton (June 30, 2011) Publication Date June 30, 2011 Sold by  Digital Services LLC Language English ASIN B004XFYIDS

Turn Right at Machu Picchu Rediscovering the Lost City One Step at a Time eBook Mark Adams Reviews

• Mr. Adams took me on a revisit of not just Machu Picchu, but deep into the Sacred Valley of the Incas along the Urubamba River and Ollantaytambo and beyond. I absolutely loved how he was able to weave Inca history (of which im a longtime student) Into the arduous adventure of his trek along Bingham's footsteps. I have traveled to Peru over a dozen times and have many friends in the Quechua communities in and around Cusco. I got many a chuckle about the idiosyncrasies of these hardy and unique descendants of the Inca. I found myself nodding in agreement with the author and enjoyed the interspersing of historic accounts and different aspects of interpretation of what remains a mystery to this day.
  Yes, it was a true rediscovery of Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail which I hiked at the age of 62 in 2002, highlight of my adult life. I'm grateful for the many hours of armchair travel the author provided me as chances are that I will not be able to return unless someone volunteers a golden litter and a couple of handsome chasquis!
• I got this and 'The Last Days of the Incas' (by Kim MacQuarrie) as reading material leading up to and while traveling in Peru. 'Last Days' is a heavy historical book (I knew it would be) but I thought I would want some historical background on the ruins and sites we were visiting. 'Turn Right' was more fun and included all the relevant highlights on the historical conflict between the two brothers and Spain's 16th c relationship was with the Incas. I ended up leaving 'Last Days' at a hotel before I finished it.
  
  Mark's book contained fun tidbits and factoids that I could share with my travel companions. Sometimes I read whole sections out loud to them. Machu Picchu was the last stop on our 2.5-week journey and it was fun to arrive about the same time Mark did at the end of his book.
• Adams, an editor for a travel/adventure magazine, realized that despite his profession he had never been on a proper adventure of his own. For his first endeavor, he chooses to follow in the footsteps of Hiram Bingham, the American explorer often credited with the discovery of Peru’s “lost city” of Machu Picchu.
  
  Bingham, who originally received a lot of accolades for his discovery, later became a highly controversial figure. To this day, in fact, arguments about his accomplishments and practices are still taking place, particularly regarding the artifacts that he collected (stole? borrowed?) and took to the United States. There are those who maintain that Machu Picchu was never lost at all; that Bingham merely happened to be the first outsider to come across it. Regardless of whether he truly discovered Machu Picchu or simply became its publicist, Bingham is undoubtedly responsible for worldwide awareness of and interest in the mountain city. Following his lead 100 years later ends up becoming a fascinating journey of adventure and discovery for Adams.
  
  Interspersed with information about Incan history and Bingham’s expeditions, Adams relates his experiences trekking through the remote regions of Peru with his tough-as-nails Australian guide John Leivers. For a man who has never even slept in a tent before, Adams hangs in there and carries on with his adventure rather well as time goes by, and I was happy to go along for the ride from the comforts of my armchair.
  
  His writing is both funny and informative, and I loved learning more about what is undoubtedly one of the world’s true wonders.
• Every once in a long while I read a book that's so good I feel I have to write a review. This is one of them. My family and I went to Machu Picchu just a few weeks before I read this, and so of course some of the places mentioned were especially personal, but overall I learned SO MUCH about Hiram Bingham and the "discovery" of Machu Picchu through this book. The author combines history with his own story and personal relationships and I just found his style very enjoyable and educational. I heartily recommend this book if you have any interest in Machu Picchu, Peru, or Indiana Jones. ) Great book...I was sad when it was over.
• My brother and his wife went to Machu Picchu recently; I probably won't ever make it there. I'm looking forward to their first-hand accounts and now that I've read this book I will have more than a vague idea of what they are talking about.
  
  I'm not going to regurgitate what other reviewers have said about the author's fun yet informative writing style and how easy it is to understand the historical facts.
  
  I loved the cover page artwork, but what REALLY helped me follow the story were the 16 pages of black-and-white photographs, including some dating back to 1911. The 45 photos added immensely to the narrative.
  
  If you like reading adventure travel stories, are attracted to South American (and Inca) history, and want to be entertained while you are being educated, you will probably enjoy this book.
  
  Now, off to see if Mark Adams has written any other books!
• I don't know how it could have been any more perfect. Mr. Adams who writes with a sense of humor and a love of history juxtaposes his grueling trips to Machu Picchu with the trips of explorer, Hiram Bingham who has been given credit for discovering Machu Picchu one hundred years ago. It's not just about the history of the discovery, but also about the events that sourrounded Hiram Bingham for years. An abbreviated biography.
  
  Mr. Adams hired a great guide, John, who knew all the right people to hire. John is an interesting and funny man and Mr. Adams describes him so well that I didn't have to see the pictures to know what he looked like.
  
  I enjoyed this book completely and would love to make plans to go to Machu Picchu as soon as possible. This book has made me appreciate it so much more than I would have without it.