Colliding With Stars in Cuzco

June 30: Had a run in with two of my favorite actors in Cusco on Thursday. Dominic Monaghan and Evangeline Lily. Never heard of them, you say? Well, Monaghan played the chipper hobbit Merry in The Lord of the Rings movies, and Lily currently stars in the television drama LOST (Monaghan is a former co-star on the show). You never know who you´ll meet on the road, I guess.

Friday, I went white water river rafting on the Rio Urubamba, which was a blast save for my stupidity in not removing my shoes when I put on my wetsuit. They dried during my train ride to Aguas Calientes the following morning, while I was trying to catch up on my sleep after a night on the town with new friends.

I arrived at Machu Picchu a short time later, and sat contemplating the ruins for several hours before getting up and walking around the site. How marvelous they are! Watching other people´s experiences at the former Incan complex was truly interesting as well. Some meditated, some seemed utterly awe struck, some yelled that they didn´t have time for this or that and had to hurry back to the bus, some seemed to be in a trancelike state, but most just snapped a few photos and left. What a pity for them. Machu Picchu truly deserves the title of a ¨New World Wonder¨for it´s brilliance, mystique, and magnificence. My experience is ineffible, of course, but I can say with certainty that it was one of the highlights of my trip so far.

I woke today and wandered around Cusco one last time. Watched the Spanish team defeat Germany in the Eurocup finals and witnessed frenzied men clad in Spain´s jersey pump their fists and party in the streets. Hailed a cab and arrived at my current location in Cusco´s bus terminal, listening to the calls of people pushing services to Arequipa, Lima, Ica, and many unfamiliar sounding places. I´m off to Puno in a few hours for a brief visit to the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca before hoping on another bus and heading to Bolivia. Wish me luck!

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