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Published: August 30th 2008
Cusco
sangria anyone!Up early to get our 9am bus to Cusco 15 soles (UNDER 3 POUNDS ). It was a slightly annoying as it was only suppose to take 7hrs but the bus driver keep stoping and picking up randoms so it took around 9hrs. So we had to leave the train station until tomorrow as we havent a clue about prices. We have seen alot of tour offices doing a car to Machu picchu for 8/10 people so we will look in to that aswell. Cusco looks real nice and plenty to see and do, we went to a real nice bar for happy hour and tried the local drink Pissco sour which I have a real taste for now. They played english music and have live bands on which we will try and check out whilst where here. There are so many resturants to choose from alot of set meals ranging from as little as 4soles (70p) to 25soles (4pounds) so we are spoilt for choice (obviously try the cheap ones first) We went to a really nice little resturant and had Alpaca it was really tasty, Steve wants to try Guinea pig but its expencive so he
keeps putting it off (thank god)
SUNDAY 24th Aug After a good look round we decided to go with a company called "Inkas golden" as all the companies where offering the same things but this one included the bus to Machu Picchu and back as you stay in a village called Aguas calientes which in lonly planet is described as the most ugliest town and most over priced in peru. But the bonus is we can get to Machu picchu before the train and watch the sunrise so thats pritty cool. So we leave at 7:30am tomorrow and we came across a place serving brekie from 6:30am so that should set us up for the day. We arrive back on tuesday at 8:30pm so we have decided to keep our room on so we can jump straight in a nice hot shower at 30 soles we may aswell!
MONDAY 25th Aug Up early 6am so we could grab brekie! NOT a good start as they where not open and neither was anywhere else, so no coffee or food where as grumpy as hell. The car did not pick us up until 8:15 then it was just a girl
Highest point
On the way to Machu picchu somewhere high? in a taxi where she took us to an office and they tried to make us wait whilst they ate breki! I dont think so we tried to go off and get coffee but they tought we where trying to leave and not come back. So they put us in the van and messed around getting petrol and then drove back to town to pick up everyone else who had been told 9am. When everyone was in we set off. There was 8 of us all together and everyone spoke good english so that was cool. We stoped off for lunch and this was not suppose to be included but they never asked us for money and the other guys had been told food was inc on the first day so we just went with it. After the lunch stop they put us into a different van, which was no way near as nice as the first one we where squashed in no leg room and it was a 12 seater where they put in 14 people so there where some on the floor absolutly crazy. We finaly arrived in AGUAS CALIENTES at 6pm where we went for a wonder
Dangerous road
This was worse than the most dangerous road! with all the group and had a few drinks before dinner. It not a fair description in lonly planet as its acctualy a nice place and quite reasonably priced and locals friendly enougth. We had dinner (not so good) Then asked for our bus tickets and this was when they told us they where NOT included. We showed them our ticket with it written on but they just said no! We informed them we did not have enougth money for the bus as it was 42soles each and they basicly said it was tough (not impressed) we persisted and they finaly paind one way but the asked for it back and where banging on our door at all hours. So in the end we gave them back the money as we desperatly needed sleep and we where told to sort it out ourselves when we got back. Luckly the others in our group said they would walk in the morrning to so were up early for the 1hr 30min walk steps all the way arrrrr!
TUESDAY 26th Aug Walked as the sun was rising, quite a difficult walk as all up hill steps but we where in the first
our new friends
Aguas calientes 30 to get in so we legged it to the best view point and got to see it with hardly anyone there. We got some amazing photos (as you can see) and we got to watch the sunrise which changed the way it looked in a way you couldent describe Amazing! We where met by the guide who turned up 30min late and he was beyond awful. He dident understand any questions or give you chance to ask them as he was rather rude. It was like he was in his own dream world talking with his eyes closed like he had the script written on his eyelids, and if he cought you wondering off he would shout you back it was like being back on a school trip (we all found it very amusing though) After our guide released us after a long 2hrs we ran like the wind to the toilets as there is none in Machu picchu its self (pain) We then took a walk to the inka bridge but part of the path had collapsed so we had to turn back. We took the bus back down to Aguas calientes and collected our things to head
4am Morning stroll
walking to machu picchu! back. Journey back was ok until the lunch stop. They took 2hrs messing around with who was going in which bus and when we finally got into our bus they said there was just us 8 but we had 2 extras pluss the driver but no boot so we had our bags in the car then they tried to putin 2 extras when theres only one extra seat. So we all refuzed to go in the end we had a kid who puked the whole way and our bags on our lap for 6hrs. The guy we booked the trip with better hide because he wont be safe when I get my hands on him.
WEDNESDAY 27th Aug We headed straight to the tour office and Alfredo the guy we booked with was no where to be seen Supprise supprise. So we where told to go back at 3, we did no alfredo then got told 7, no Alfredo so we waited until 10pm, No Alfredo. We are going back tomorrow see if we can catch him. The rest of the day we went shopping and I bought lots, 5 tops 1 dress and a scalf for 110soles (19pounds)
Machu picchu
perfect spot! so that cheered me up (I think steve had lost the will to live though bless him)We went out for dinner and Steve had guinea pig and it still had teeth and a tail ewe! NO I did not try it.
THURSDAY 28th Aug Steve cought Alfredo in the office and after some arguing he agreed to pay us the bus back at 82 soles but he wont have the money until Saturday. Steve got him to write it down and agree to it so we will wait and see. We went to mercardo central and they sell so much random stuff like, cows noses and live frogs (I ran away at that point) animal parts we wouldent dream of eating like sheeps feet god it was discusting. Steve bought some bits and he got a t-shirt so we dident do to bad. Off to do the sights tomorrow as I spent 3hrs on skype and I promoted a few things as I talk so loud people where asking Steve about things I was talking about , I like to help my fello travelers.
FRIDAY 29th Aug Today we did the sights. We did the Plazas and the
the 12 sided stone, the Cathedrals (from the outside) and the golden courtyard (thats not golden). So it was a good day we got to see most of Cusco and were off out this evening to test the night life whoop whoop!
SATURDAY 30th Aug Its official im a light weight. We had a rum and coke before we went out then I only had 2 pisco sours and I was drunk Is there any need? Good night though we bumped in to a couple from Minnesota who where on the Machu Picchu tour with us and we went on to the Irish bar on the plaza. Im not looking forward to the 12hr bus journey tonight but I am looking forward to Arequipa. we have around 10 days left in peru so we will fill you in on our adventures when we leave x x
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