Success at Machu Picchu

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4:00 am "Anna?" I jump out of bed as if it were on fire, " I am up, I am up." I say. I go to the bathroom, wash my face, brush my teeth and pull my clothes on. Lilou, my 22 year old Dutch companion and I pack up our back packs strap on our head lamps and we are on our way.

4:45 am We reach the bridge and make our way to the stone walking path leading straight UP to Macchu Picchu.

4:55 am We take off our sweaters and take some pictures (note: "pictures" are a good disguise for a break).

5:00 am I am certain the other twenty people behind us have now passed us.

5:05 am We stop and eat some bananas for energy.

5:10 More "pictures" and some water.

5:15 am "I am not gonna make it."

5:20 am "How much further?"

5:25 am "Why didn´t we just take the $7 and 15 minute bus ride?"

5:40 am "Just leave me here to die," I say to my companion. Bless her heart she is very encouraging. I tie my scarf around my head to keep the sweat from going into my eyes.

5:55 am More "pictures" and we scan for signs of life.

5:57 am "Give me a break, I am a 40 year old overweight smoker."

6:00 am "Is it too late to turn back? Down is always easier"

6:05 am We hear people thought it seems that we are still deep in the jungle and the leafy overhangs make is impossible to see where the top is.

6:07 am More "pictures".

6:10 We round the final bend and we see about 50 people waiting in line, the park has just opened, we get our tickets stamped for Hayuanu Picchu (only 400 people per day are allowed to climb this mountain that overlooks Macchu Picchu.) "Well, that wasn´t so bad," I say.

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Photos

Starting out for Machu Pichu
5am and on the way- look how happy Lilou and I look.

More Steps
These are some of the steps leading straight up to Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes.

Machu Picchu
This is one of my first views of Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu
Llamas- how did they get up here?

Machu Picchu
View through the window.

Huayanu Picchu enterance
I was #67- you had to sign in and out. It was a scarey climb with cables that you could grab to help pull you up, on the other side there was a sheer drop.

Thne path leading to Huayna Picchu
4 hour hike to get to a view over Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu
After 9am they let you stamp your passport with Machu Picchu- is that legal? I mean it's not vaticxan city.