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Published: December 28th 2006
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Alpacas
In a small community before Ollantaytambo (took my about a week before I could pronounce that!) Hey everyone!!
I´m in Copacobana, Bolivia the moment, having just left Cusco and finished the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, where we follow the path that the Inca´s took when making their pilgramage.. Mate.... I was NOT expecting THAT!!! I don´t know what I was thinking when I booked it, maybe a leisurely four day stroll through the mountain side... but BLOODY HELL!
Ok first of all it was up and around a million huge mountains. Up-hill. And more up-hill. For HOURS. Then a bit of down-hill which was an absolute killer on my poor abused knee joints! There were 11 of us all together, plus a guide and about 18 local porters who carried our camping gear... you would not believe how amazing these guys were. While we were struggling and huffing and puffing, they were running the trail with massive weights on their backs, I have never seen people work so hard in my life. Just when you think "this is not humanly possible!", a porter runs past you with a hippo of luggage strapped to their back. Could really not complain about being cold/exhausted/tired after seeing how hard they work!!
It was the most physically
challenging thing I have ever done! Some people injured themselves, and others became so sick to the point of throwing up.. but ahhh the walk there was SO beautiful... so many stunning Incan sites that were hundreds of years old, snow-capped mountains and plenty of llamas and alpacas right outside our tents!! We were really blessed with the weather - sunny and warm during the day so we had beautiful views of everything, then absolutely freezing at night, and one day is rained which basically made the trail a slippery slide. Plus we camped the entire time.. with NO showers.. that´s right, walking all day for four days, then camping, I have never been so disgusting in my life! Actually on the last day we camped near a public shower that we had the option of using... but it cost AU$2 and so a group of us decided to be hardcore and go the whole way without a shower (a few people caved though hehe). Then when we could finally see Machu Picchu oh the relief!! We were all so exhausted and proud of ourselves. Unfortunately my bloody camera was playing up (perhaps had something to do with me taking
photos in the rain hehe), so another girl in my group took some pics of me, will have to get them off her at a later date!
That afternoon we had some free time to explore Machu Picchu, go to some hot springs or climb some other ridiculously steep massive mountains... so of course I jumped on the last one! It was just me and one other guy (every one else was too tired... puh!). It was soooo steep we were scrambling up on our hands and knees, and when we got to the top my god it was high!! Then it started raining and me not being a big fan of heights was like "quick take picture and lets go!!!" By the time we were finished, we were both so dirty, sweaty and wet... and popular with everyone else on the bus haha!
Two completely random things that you would only see in Peru - on the bus to Machu Picchu town, there was a little kid who tore down every hill the bus went down screaming GOODBYE in some unrecognisable language.. possibly the oddest thing I have ever seen and sounded rather like a cat on
heat, then when the bus finally stopped he jumped on for his tip (well earned!). THEN on the train back to Cusco, randomly one of the train staff dressed in this white gimp mask and danced up and down the aisles with a lasso and a toy llama. Apparently its some traditional thing but mate we were just sitting there confused and laughing!!
After the Inca Trail I had a few days to chill in Cusco, its a really beautiful town with cobbled streets and markets, but it is way touristy.. people will NOT leave you alone when selling things and the worst are the little kids trying to sell you postcards and finger-puppets.. like what the hell am I going to do with a fingerpuppet.. you literally can´t go one minutes without being asked if you would like to buy something! The kids are shocking though, they are out ALL night even at like 2am, and they´ll ask you where you´re from and will say in english "oh Australia, the capital is Canberra and its full of convicts", its crazy!!! I´ve seen them swear at people if they don´t want to buy anything, some little girl kicked water
After the first day
It was sooooo cold... snow-capped mountains all around.. this llama wanted to take a chunk out of me hehe at me and my friend was nearly tripped, its a really sad situation that the kids are forced to work like that, but its massively irritating and really drags the town down when you just want some bloody peace!
Met up with Phil in Cusco and we headed to Bolivia together by bus, eventually arrived to Copacobana on Lake Titicaca which is a MASSIVE and beautiful lake! The town is very quaint with a million hippies, some of whom were somehow befriended and then somehow managed to convince me (and therefore Phil) to climb this ridiculously steep hill near a naval base in the middle of the night. Do not want to repeat the experience! We did some more hiking on the Isla Del Sol where the Incans believed the sun was born. Heading to La Paz next for the festive season, have a very Merry Christmas (or Feliz Navidad!)everyone!!!
Love lots,
Lauren xoxoxooxxox
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