The stone sculptures in Aguas Calientes represent components of religion and culture in the Inca Empire.

Me and my bro, Banana Joe! 😉

I spent a day more in Aguas Calientes than planned. I actually wanted to go to Santa Teresa first, but I fell asleep during the trip and when I was in Hidroeléctrica, I just hiked right over the tracks to Aguas Calientes. There is a small thermal bath, which did my sore muscles very well. It wasn't very crowded, so I had my peace. In Santa Teresa there is also a thermal bath, which is larger, but I didn't like it so much.

My friend is back and finally grown up! 😌
Of course you can drink my tasty sweat, you must be very thirsty! 😅🤗

Based on the nymphs that have occurred so far, you couldn't really say anything about the species. Netherless, my suspicion was already in the direction of Planuncus tingitanus s.l., because they are often found near houses. Ectobius vittiventris also accidentally gets into homes due to massive outbreaks caused by hot and dry summers. However, the wings of E. vittiventris are always longer than the abdomen. So I'm probably right with P. tingitanus .


By the way, it's not the worst idea to offer drinking opportunities in this heat. There are plenty of ways to make this possible. On the Internet you will find many crafting instructions for insect watering places. 🍹🐝

It often drizzled in Aguas Calientes, so I bought this hat. Best hat ever! Totally completed me! 😃

Aguas Calientes a.k.a. Machupicchu Pueblo is located 6 kilometers from Machu Picchu, closely surrounded by rainforest-covered mountains. There's no road connection, you can only get there by train or on foot. For most visitors, it's the starting point for the tour to the ancient city. The village is very well presented with many artistic details. Here I even had the chance to watch the development. 🤗🎨🐾
I've many more photos, but always nice and slow with the young sloths... ☝😏
🤓 On this day in history, July 24th:
In 1911, Machu Picchu was rediscovered by archaeologist Hiram Bingham. ☝

West of the village of Maras are these unusual Inca ruins. Their depth, design and orientation creates a temperature difference of as much as 15°C (27°F) between the top and the bottom. The purpose is uncertain, but it may have been used for agricultural experiments. It has been discovered that the soil of the terraces comes from different places. The Inca have produced countless varieties of potatoes, quinoa and corn. Until 50 years ago, potatoes and barley were grown here.

"Sunrise Flowers" this morning during my sloth wandering. Sloths are always in action, just very slow. This video symbolises the stages of getting up. It always starts with a blurry thistle.

Someone came to visit me again! 🤗
A little bit bigger and the color turns amber. I think this is a Planuncus tingitanus s.l., because of its habitat. They're invasive and prefer shrubs and trees near human settlements. "S.l." stands for "sensu lato" meaning "in the sense of". It's a species complex consisting of different species or possibly just one. So it's kind of working title, until molecular investigations provide new insights. But I can't even be sure if this little visitor belongs to the Planuncus species. Forest cockroaches often differ only minimally, such as on the genitals. However, it's my pleasure to serve as an insect motel. Feel like home, eat some dirt, stretch your limbs and just feel good! Sloth life!✌

Oh Arsinoë... 😄