20th December, Machu Picchu

20th December, Machu Picchu

We rose at 5.15am for our bus to the entrance at 5.40am! The ride wasnt too bad. Jake had warned me of steep drops that the bus would have to drive on, but most of the way was surrounded by trees.

When we arrived, we had no idea what to do as our guide hadnt bothered to show. It was packed with loads of other tourists at the entrance. We got chatting to an Aussie couple, who had also stayed at our hostel, and agreed to meet them just after 8am when the guide would meet us by waving a white flag.

We decided to make the short climb to Machu Picchu before the guided tour. The views were stunning, exactly like all the pictures I had seen. The only thing that slightly spoilt it was the weather and our itchy legs, from all the bites we got the night before in our filthy room. It chucked it down the whole climb. I had to wear a silly looking plastic pullover like most of the other tourists. We took loads of pictures and then explored the sacred inca city you see on all the pictures of Machu Picchu. I loved it! We were so high up in the clouds, but were still able to see the beautiful views all around the mountain of Machu Picchu.

Just before 8am we walked back to the entrance where there was a restaurant as we were starving. The one bread roll we had for breakfast didnt fill me for long! We got ripped off by paying 20sol (5pound!) for just a sandwich. But we had no choice as we didnt bring any snacks with us, as the night before we didnt get chance to go out and buy any, as were stuck in waiting for the no-show guide.

At 8.10 we met up with the aussie couple who were really nice. The tour guide arrived and got our group together about 15 of us, but mine and Jakes names werent called out so we tagged along anyway! He took us up some of the original inca trail, machu picchu and the ruins of the sacred city.

I felt so stupid with my plastic overall, but after spotting a tiny chinese lady, swamped with an oversized pink rainmac which she had pulled over her backpack giving her an enourmous hunchback, i felt much better and couldnt stop laughing! She had even made her own hood and visor and completed the look with a pair of sandles!!

MP was incredible, i loved the tour and got loads of pictures. After the tour we had planned to climb the actual MP mountain, but couldnt as the rain had gotten a lot heavier and the trail would be dangerous. Besides, i was so tired from our 6 hours of non-stop walking and our legs were so sore still from the bites!

Back at the entrance, we were told that lunch was provided for free at the restaurant as part of the package. We were gutted when we realised the lady at the tour agency, Vicky (pronounced ´bicky´!) hadnt even given us our free lunch passes. Pissed off we tried to call her from the office, but her phone was off. On a positive note though, we both got to stamp our passports with a special MP stamp!

Looking liked drowned rats, we jumped back on a bus into town. We were very sweaty and soaked through, and my legs had got much worse. I demanded a new room when we returned, one not next to the railwayline and with no mosquitos!!! We got the new room and a hairdryer for me - the first time i had seen one in 3 weeks!!!!!

Back at the room i burst out crying when i saw my legs! They were covered in huge red, sore spots from the bites and were so painful! It had taken me ages, since our brief forray into the Amazon, to get rid of my last lot and now we had about 20 more!!

i wrote up my travel diary while poor jake had the slow task of drying our coats with the hair dryer. We got changed and went out for a 3-course meal which costs $3.50 each! very good value indeed!

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