We left our hotel at Aguas Calientes about 07:00 after a good breakfast. We caught a bus back up to Machu Picchu and even though it was early, it was already really busy with visitors.
José and Efrain split us into two groups to give us a guided tour of the site as it was just too busy with visitors to walk around in a group of 21 people. This was our half:
It's impossible to describe how we felt as we walked around; the sights and smells, the way we felt just being there. It was Charmazing!! (This is a word we made up this week.) This is us with José.
It's impossible to describe how we felt as we walked around; the sights and smells, the way we felt just being there. It was Charmazing!! (This is a word we made up this week.) This is us with José.
It was a really hot day but at least the altitude at MP is only about 2,500m so, although we felt hot, we weren't struggling too much. 4 of our group walked up the mountain next to MP, Huayna Picchu. Naomi and I were glad that we didn't do it when we heard the stories of vertical steps and a really tough walk up.
Sadly we only had a short time to explore the site as we had to meet back up with the group at 12:00 in time for the half hour bus ride back down the hill to Aguas Calientes.
We had an hour to ourselves to look around the town so went souvenir hunting around the stalls and small shops. We met up with the rest of the group in a restaurant beside the train tracks. They showed us photos that they had taken from the top of the mountain; scary stuff. Naomi had chicken and Annette had ham pizza, which she struggled to eat as the cheese had such a strong taste. We then bought icecreams and walked to the train station.
We caught the 15:45 train back to Ollantaytambo, which was a 1.5 hour journey. After the trolley dollies had brought us complimentary drinks and snacks, another member of train staff dressed up as the Sacre (a colourful Peruvian character with a rat's face representing a playful devil) and got first Dawn and then Georgie up out of their seats to dance with him.
The two trolley dollies then put on a selection of Peruvian jumpers and paraded up and down the carriage. It was very bizarre! They then brought a trolley out in the hope of selling some of the jumpers they had been wearing. It was all very strange!
Annette was sitting quite near the front of the train (behind the driver's little area which only took up half of the front bit of the train, so there were two seats beside the driver's bit with fantastic views of the track and scenery ahead) so as we approached the station and she stood in the aisle she had a fantastic view, something you don't get on a train in the UK.
At Ollantaytambo we boarded a coach that took us back to the hotel at Cusco, which took 3 hours, sitting in our usual seats on the back seat with Mike, and Sarah in the row just in front. We wrote this blog on the way while Sarah sang us songs like 'Sister Josephine' and then we had a sing-along to 'Bohemium Rhapsody', 'Summer Nights' and a selection of Cornish songs. How boring coach trips will seem in future without this entertainment!
Once back at the hotel, we had half an hour to shower and change before we headed off to a restaurant for dinner. However, before we left the hotel we said our official goodbyes to José and Efrain. We also each received a certificate and medal from Cornwall Air Ambulance for the fundraising that we all did. And Dean was presented with a fabulous new brolly to replace the one that he had left as an offering to the God of the mountains.
Once back at the hotel, we had half an hour to shower and change before we headed off to a restaurant for dinner. However, before we left the hotel we said our official goodbyes to José and Efrain. We also each received a certificate and medal from Cornwall Air Ambulance for the fundraising that we all did. And Dean was presented with a fabulous new brolly to replace the one that he had left as an offering to the God of the mountains.
About 21:00 we went to a restaurant for dinner.
The waiters were very good and happily catered for Stu and Annette's special diets. Naomi had steak and Annette had chicken. It was our last meal with José and Efrain. When it was time for them to leave Efrain gave a moving speech.
The waiters were very good and happily catered for Stu and Annette's special diets. Naomi had steak and Annette had chicken. It was our last meal with José and Efrain. When it was time for them to leave Efrain gave a moving speech.
We all left the restaurant about 10:30 and some of us went into a bar down the hill from the restaurant, called Paddy's Bar. It was really busy and had a good atmosphere although their non-alcoholic cocktails left something to be desired!
What a beautiful place Cusco is. The view on the walk back to the hotel was just stunning.
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