To Machu Picchu

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Our adventure to Machu Picchu !
. By taxi packed with 8 bodies, a truck conducted by a priest who knows how to take every curve with grace, a pully train rattling down the jungle rails, a army jeep full of a Quechua speaking family of 10 stopping in the middle of their constant jokes to pick avocados in the road, and by our very own feet, we arrived in Machu Picchu in a record two days (when the trail typically takes 6 days).

We were chased by bulls on a thin mountain trail, and never has my adrenaline been so effective as we scaled the steep wall with our heavy backpacks. We carried all of our gear straight up the mountain without the typical relief of mules, and never has my legs trembled with fatigue. We hiked through the constant showers, and never have I been so thankful for a thin plastic poncho. We passed through the Andes and arrived at the "ceja" or "eyebrow" of the Amazon jungle and we were marveled by our amazing adventure.

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Photos

Via pick-up
Day one: hitch a ride on the back of a truck. The priest driving was tearing up the roads and taking the curves on the mountain roads with all faith possible.

Me and the Cow
Warming up to the cow. Later to be bucked a few yards by a young bull. I learned about the Toros on this trip : two days later my adrenaline hit all highs when two bulls came running down our narrow mountain path. They were being trandported by two other men running behind with ropes and throwing rocks. We had no warning and somehow scaled the rock wall with our backpacks on to save our life. uuuhhhh.

before the summit . .
Guille and I feeling peaceful before arriving to the mountain.

...and the rain comes
The thunder claps and the rain begins. . .just as we begin the climb. ( For this reason most begin the hike at 6 am ) . . . but we wanted more that first day.

a bit of sun
We finally find a patch of sun up in the knees of Sankantay. Yet, the storm was just beginning.

aaaahhhhaaaaa !
It is bigger than it looks.