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Published: September 19th 2011
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Thursday 15th September
All aboard Peru Rail to Aguas Calientes!
We had both expected this fair weather tourist stop over for the Inca trail to be quite dirty and seedy, and I suppose where the locals live it could be considered just that. Most tourists stay in over priced hostels and hotels and blow in and blow out overnight to do the Inca trail.
When we first arrived In Cusco on Sunday night we booked our tickets as a sort of package, so bus return Cusco>Olly, train return from Olly>Aguas, bus to Macchu Picchu and also our accommodation in Aguas on Thursday night at the Golden House Inn. Looked beautiful on the board at the office and the driver was picking us up and taking us there when we arrived in Aguas Calientes.
We knew something was up when we saw our names on the board at the other end, but for a different hotel. In fact, all the people on the board were also supposed to be staying where we were. They assure us its ok, and we follow them with our day packs to this hostel and ask us to wait in the reception area on their filthy,
floral 2 seater lounges.
After waiting what seems to be forever we are asked to follow them again and we end up in the hostel Dodgeville aka La Orcheadus, or some damn thing. They show us a poky room outside reception with 3 single beds in it, and ask us if thats ok. I state most firmly (lol) that this is not ok, as this is not our hotel. After much toing and froing, we ask to speak to Humberto who was our agent. They ring him and he says there was a mistake and that we do have a reservation at Golden House.
So 5 minutes later we are in a lovely street, walking up through some lovely hotels looking at all the lovely restaurants we can choose from tonight and then....... we spot the Golden House! We walk in and it is almost a replica of what we have just left. She has no reservation but makes a call and takes us to our room. We should have stayed at Dodgeville. The shower has no running water, and one of its walls is just glass - facing the Street! LOL We are moved to the room next door
Aguas Calientes
the street along the railway line which apparently has water, and also has 4 beds. We resign ourselves to our fate but Humberto will be hearing about this when we get back to Cusco.
Our guide for tomorrow arrived at around 7.30pm to tell us about the plans for the following morning. We are to meet him at Machu Picchu at 7.45am, despite us being told we would be there at sunrise. We also discover that rather than getting the 6.30pm train back to Olly the same night, we have to wait for the 9pm train, and then a bus back to Cusco.
Its a comedy of errors alright, and this 'no speak inglis' when they stuff up is wearing thin.
Still, with tomorrow firmly in our our sights, we accept our fate.
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