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Published: January 19th 2007
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The Inca Trail
At the start of the Inca Trail with our group Where do i begin! This has got to have been one of the best experiences of my life, without a doubt. I had been looking forward to doing the Inca Trail for a long time now, and this was one of the main reasons why i had wanted to go to South America in the first place. And it certainly didn´t dissapoint!
We spent about 4 days acclimitising in Cusco before going on the hike. With Josh layed up in bed ill for most of the time before the trail commenced, there were serious doubts as to whether he would make it on the trail in the first place. Of course, once he was told that he wouldn´t get his money back if he didn´t go, he miraculously recovered. This, and the thousand other drugs he was on to kill the virus, made him ready for the 49km hike the following day.
We woke up bright and early on the 1st day of the hike (5:00am was not a pleasant time to be setting your alarm for, especially when you haven´t got any sleep that night due to someone´s unpleasant snoring!) and met our group for the 1st time.
The Inca Trail
Josh, Me, and MP. At the top of Waynu Picchu We had the makings of a really great group, with 4 other aussies, 2 yanks, 1 canuck, 2 germans and 1 swede. And they didnt dissapoint. Everyone got along really well and had a great laugh the entire time, which was exactly what you´re after when you´re living out of these peoples pockets for 4 days.
After a 3 hour bus trip to the start of the hike, and the obligitory purchase of a walking stick for the trail (this thing seriously saved my life on numerous occassions), we were off. It is hard to put into words how beautiful the whole trip was, and how satisfying the whole four days are, so i will just let the pictures do the talking.
Highlights of the trip were:
* The food! Mario, the chef, was miraculous at what he did with what he had. We had some of the greatest meals of the entire trip, all cooked on a little burner in a tent.
* The guides - We had 2 guides for the trip, Javier and Juan, who were both great. The enthusiasm that Javier in particular had for his job, and his culture was second
The Inca Trail
One of the most surreal experiences of my life. Sitting at Winay Wayna near our day 3 campsite playing 500 with no other tourists in sight. Bliss! to none. Some of this phrases, such as addressing everyone as ´my friends´every time we chatted, rubbed off on everyone and have since entered our vocabularly.
* The people - The group we had really gelled from the start, and i have definitely made some great mates that i hope i can keep for a long time to come. Shout outs to the Matts, Big Craig (somehow i got labelled as little Craig....very unfortunate!!!), Renee, Jeff and Steph for being such a great laugh the whole time. Playing 500 on the ruins on the 3rd day whilst drinking beers is something i won´t forget in a hurry, nor will anyone else who was there for it.
*Surviving Dead Womans Pass - This is the biggest pass on the whole trek, and at around 4100m, it really does take your breath away. We had a raining morning when we did this, which made it all the more difficult, but i managed to plod my way up there and make it in the end, headaches and all. Was a great feeling getting to the top though, and looking out over the whole valley behind. FYI - the pass is called
The Inca Trail
Day 3 - Josh at the top of the last pass. Dead Womans Pass as the rocks on the top sort of, kind of, not particularly, look like a woman´s face and breast. Those farming people show know how to use their imagination.
* Canning on on the 3rd night - Having beers with the whole group on the 3rd night was a great way to bring everyone together over the final meal and find out exactly what everyone thought of each other! It did, however, make waking up on the 4th morning at 4am slightly difficult.
* The 4th morning - jumping out of bed at 4am to try and scoff down breakfast and be the first group at the entrance gate was hilarious. 100 torches all waving around in the dark, whilst people tried to get dressed and not hold the group up was a sight, thats for sure. The gates are around 1 hour walk from the Sun Gate, where you get the first glimpse of Machu Picchu. After making it to the entrance gate first, our guide told us not to walk too quickly as the path is dangerous, with steep drop offs etc. So it only makes common sense that the moment the gates
The Inca Trail
The boys chilling out on Day 3. opened, he ran off in front telling everyone to keep up with him so we could make it first. What was meant to take 1 hour took around 30 mins as we ran down this path as best we could, only to discover at the Sun Gate that the whole valley that Machu Picchu was covered in mist. Not really worth it in the end, but was a great laugh all the same. It was here that in the excitement of being their first, i dropped my camera, subsequently breaking it. Thank god Josh was there to take photos of the day, as i would have been devastated to not get any photos of the day we spent at Machu Picchu.
* Machu Picchu itself - This was just such a good day. It rained until about 10am, by which stage we were already climbing Waynu Picchu (the mountain being MP, which gives the best overall view of the ruins) , which is probably the steepest climb i have ever done in my life. After teasing us for around 30 mins, the clouds finally cleared to give us the money shot of the whole site. Of course, the cameras
The Inca Trail
Derek Zoolander at Machu Picchu started whirring and we got all the necessary tourist snaps for the day. After this, my life nearly came to an early conclusion as i slipped down some stairs and started tumbling to my doom off the edge of the mountain. I owe my life to a young man from Barker (cheers Beadsy) who managed to grab me as i was falling down, thus halting my deathly descent!!! After this, we just chilled out in the ruins for an hour or so, just soaking it all in and appreciating how spiritual and beautiful the whole place is.
All in all, it was such a great experience and one i would recommend to anyone. We went through SAS Travel and they were the bomb. They do charge abit more than some of the other companies, but the whole group walked away at the end without the slightest complaints. Since then, we have had a couple of massive nights in Cusco, hitting up the dancefloor at some of the local clubs, and consuming copious amounts of Cuba Libre (the free drink you get when you go into any of the bars around here). Beadsy managed to get a headbutt for his
The Inca Trail
At the top of Waynu Pîcchu, with the ruins below us. This was just after the cloud finally lifted, giving us our first full glimpse. troubles on the 1st night that we went out, however he was stoic enough to keep on going for another 30 mins or so on the DF. Shame the bird he was with didnt really want anything to do with some dude with a smashed up nose pouring blood anymore.
Yesterday we went white-water rafting again which was a blast. We got to ride some grade 3 and grade 4 rapids which was a source of great amusement for all concerned. I dont know whether my sore throat i currently have is from partying too much whilst being here, or from the copious amounts of brown river water i sucked down whilst in the raft yesterday.
Thats it from me. Josh says G´day to everyone and wants to let you know that he is fighting fit now and ready to hit up the south of Peru and Bolivia. We head off tomorrow morning bright and early to Puno, which is on the shores of Lake Titicaca, where we are going to stay for a few days before heading to La Paz for Australia Day. Should be a blast.
Keep me updated with everything back home would ya!
Peace out!
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Caroline
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oh my do i want to be there. bad news regarding the camera but if that is the only thing....! you guys have such amazing photos, some of those places - lordy Jim! Cant believe that a tough little Tuzza kid got saved by a Barker boy tho - they wouldnt believe it back home! Cant wait till you get to London, more friends! if you get a chance tho head to Nicaragua and see the only fresh water sharks in the world!