Chapter 72
Which recounts the happy conclusion to the adventure of Machu Picchu and other interesting things more factual than amusing.
Ok. Up at 5am again. We’re doing it—doing it on our own this time. The wakeup call never happened, glad I don’t trust anyone anymore, I set our alarm clock as a backup and that saved the day. Quick note on our latest batch of laundry: we made it very clear we needed it done by 6pm same day because we needed the clothes for MP the next morning. “Si, si, si, no problema.” No laundry at 6:30, or 7:30, only once I had fallen asleep was the laundry finished. But I digress…
So we got a taxi to the train station, walked right in, got on the train and we were off. It’s a 4 hour train ride first through garbage-strewn Cusco suburbs, than into beautiful county farmland, and finally into steep mountainous territory. By train is the only way to get to MP, there is no road after the first 2 hours. Pulling into Aguas Calientes, the town beside MP, we had to make our way over to the bus station to buy bus tickets. Then we found out we also had to buy MP tickets here. The running total for a trip to MP is now:
Taxi ride to train station: $1
Round trip train tickets: $136
Round trip bus tickets: $24
MP entrance tickets: $76
Or $237 for the two of us, a $47 savings over the travel agency. This is by far the biggest price-gouging rip-off we’ve had the entire trip. At least the ruins and location are spectacular. Amie thinks it was worth it, I’m not so sure…
A bus winds it way up the most unbelievably steep road for about 30 minutes before reaching the entrance to the “Lost City of the Inca.” The scenery on this road is insane. Sheer mountains plunging into a valley with a river running through. As soon as you walk through the gate you are faced with the expertly stacked rock walls the incas are famous for. As you turn the corner you are dumbstruck by the size of the site. It is immense. Well, enough about MP, the pictures speak for themselves.
On the way back the train was long and slow. As we pulled back into Cusco we were awarded some amazing views as we zig-zagged down the mountain. One german tourist stuck is camera out the window to snap a few shots, but unfortunately for him, with a loud smash, and faster than you could blink his camera was gone. Gone. No one could guess what had happened to it. It was probably one of the nicest digital cameras on the whole train. Everyone was dumbfounded as the camera was only an inch out the window and nothing touched the train. My theory is that some local banditos await the train as it turns the corner before the view and smack the cameras from their unsuspecting hands. Who know, just a theory.
Amazing setting
The infamous MP shot
Close up!
Ok. Up at 5am again. We’re doing it—doing it on our own this time. The wakeup call never happened, glad I don’t trust anyone anymore, I set our alarm clock as a backup and that saved the day. Quick note on our latest batch of laundry: we made it very clear we needed it done by 6pm same day because we needed the clothes for MP the next morning. “Si, si, si, no problema.” No laundry at 6:30, or 7:30, only once I had fallen asleep was the laundry finished. But I digress…
So we got a taxi to the train station, walked right in, got on the train and we were off. It’s a 4 hour train ride first through garbage-strewn Cusco suburbs, than into beautiful county farmland, and finally into steep mountainous territory. By train is the only way to get to MP, there is no road after the first 2 hours. Pulling into Aguas Calientes, the town beside MP, we had to make our way over to the bus station to buy bus tickets. Then we found out we also had to buy MP tickets here. The running total for a trip to MP is now:
Taxi ride to train station: $1
Round trip train tickets: $136
Round trip bus tickets: $24
MP entrance tickets: $76
Or $237 for the two of us, a $47 savings over the travel agency. This is by far the biggest price-gouging rip-off we’ve had the entire trip. At least the ruins and location are spectacular. Amie thinks it was worth it, I’m not so sure…
A bus winds it way up the most unbelievably steep road for about 30 minutes before reaching the entrance to the “Lost City of the Inca.” The scenery on this road is insane. Sheer mountains plunging into a valley with a river running through. As soon as you walk through the gate you are faced with the expertly stacked rock walls the incas are famous for. As you turn the corner you are dumbstruck by the size of the site. It is immense. Well, enough about MP, the pictures speak for themselves.
On the way back the train was long and slow. As we pulled back into Cusco we were awarded some amazing views as we zig-zagged down the mountain. One german tourist stuck is camera out the window to snap a few shots, but unfortunately for him, with a loud smash, and faster than you could blink his camera was gone. Gone. No one could guess what had happened to it. It was probably one of the nicest digital cameras on the whole train. Everyone was dumbfounded as the camera was only an inch out the window and nothing touched the train. My theory is that some local banditos await the train as it turns the corner before the view and smack the cameras from their unsuspecting hands. Who know, just a theory.
Room with a view
Llama enjoying the view
Behold!
Amazing setting
Mike wouldn't let his fans down...although his wrist is now letting him down
We made it!
You need lots of breaks in this high altitude
Cuddle break
The infamous MP shot
Take two
Close up!
Machu Picchu CHECK!
posted by Pedro and Maria at 11:07 AM
2 Comments:
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I'm glad you guys were able to make it up there. Those pictures are amazing. I can only imagine what it was like there.
Good luck.
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