We spent the afternoon of January 10, 2012, visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site (1983) at Machu Picchu. Brad's photo captures the real flavor of the building. The floor plan of the Temple of the Sun or Torreón is semicircular. The rear wall is straight and the entire 'temple' was built with rectangular faced stones of whitish-gray colored granite (interlaced with an equigranular texture) with perfect joints. The two windows on the semicircular wall were used to provide views of particular astronomical objects (Collca, an Andean constellation, and the Pleiades) and events (summer solstice). Also seen here is an 'in-situ' carved rock altar that served to carry out ceremonies honoring the sun. The trapezoid-shaped wall niches may have held idols/offerings. A cave known as the "Royal Tomb" is found under the Sun Temple. No remains were found here. Perhaps, the cave was related to the Ukju Pacha (underground world and the cult of dead people). Temperatures were in the low 70's with humid conditions and low hanging clouds drifting in over the Andes. Note the carved fake beam on the lower left straight wall of the temple.