How would you describe a trek to the age-old cities of the Incas in the mountains of Peru?

Emerald forests and these coffee-colored peaks and these exotic birds.

It really is a remarkable, remarkable journey.

I'm Rick Steeves and coming up in the hour ahead, prepare to walk the Inca trail from Kuzcoe to Machu Picchu.

And it's easy to stumble upon ancient civilizations almost anywhere you walk in Turkey.

Istanbul is home to some of the world's grandest buildings, including a palace that just about bankrupted the Ottoman Empire.

It's spectacular Bakara Crystal Staircases, largest crystal chandeliers of the world,

biggest hand-woven carpets of the world.

And even the ruins of great castles and Wales can tell you plenty about the past.

These are cultured people. They are wealthy people.

And any idea that you have they sit around wrapped up in animal skins grunting and throwing bones over their shoulders, forget it.

Explore the legacy of the Incas, the Ottomans, and medieval Wales.

It's just ahead on travel with Rick Steves.

A lot of people travel with walls up. Bringing those walls down is what allows you to have those

moments where you truly connect with new people and cultures.

Rosetta Stone can help take down one of the biggest walls, the language barrier.

Rosetta Stone is fun to use, you learn fast and you can use it on your smartphone, tablet, or computer.

For a special discount, go to Rosetta Stone.com

slash Rick Steves.

One of the thrills of travel is being able to connect with the history of ancient

civilizations, even getting cozy with stones that were carved hundreds, maybe even thousands of years ago.

Today on Travel with Rick Steves, we're following the Inca Trail and the Andes of Peru.

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