Blogs from Aguas Calientes, Cusco, Peru, South America - page 4

Wow. I am so tired, and have had such an eventful last few days, that I am somewhat intimidated by the gargantuan task of enlisting the help of the written word to express things that I don´t think can be adequately conveyed through any means but experience. Of course, gamely, I will try my best. Monday was the day I had taken it upon myself to clamour through the gringo hordes and see the myriad sights on offer in Cusco, the oldest continuously inhabited city in South America. Kim, my roommate, and I had settled on entering the cathedral in the main Plaza. I recently read about Che Guevara´s experience in that Cathedral in ´The Motorcycle Diaries,´ and his words just hit the nail on the head. He spoke of how the gold in the cathedral ... read more

Tanaan oli vuorossa siirtyminen Machu Picchun laheiseen kylaan Aguas Calientesiin. Tanne paasi vain junalla. Junamatka oli vain 40 km, mutta kesti melkein kaksi tuntia ja maksoi sen verran mita matka Tampereelta Helsinkiin. Kalleimpia matkaosuuksia talla mantereella. Junassa ei ollut matkatavarahyllyja. Sen sijaan katossa oli ikkunoita, ja ne olivatkin tarpeen, silla matka meni syvassa laaksossa ja nakymia piisasi. Majoituimme hostelliin, kavimme ostamassa huomiseksi liput Machu Picchuun ja jututimme pitkaan eilen tapaamiani barcelonalaisia. Josep asuu kylla Kolumbiassa ja on siella naimisissa. Hanen aitinsa Roser on jo elakkeella ja on tullut ensimmaista kertaa Etela-Amerikkaan. Josep aikoi lahtea liikkeelle aamulla varhain ja kiiveta ylos. Kun tytartani on vaivannut flunssa, meidan piti tehda rauhallisemmat suunnitelmat, jattaa ohjelmasta pois korkein huippu ja menna ylos bussilla, ... read more

Just checked out of the hotel in Aguas Calientes (the town at the bottom of Machu Picchu). Had a great day yesterday despite a shaky start (at our 5:40am pickup time, we almost ditched the plan due to queasiness). Illness held off for the whole day however, and we had an exceptional visit to Machu Picchu, followed by a dip in the hotsprings here in town. We're exploring Aguas Calientes this afternoon until our train leaves at 4pm, but will keep an eye on the nearest bathroom at all times. Realized that this wasn't just altitude sickness, but something more sinister, and we're all in the same boat at the moment. Fun. Grateful we we had a good day yesterday though. With Machu Picchu, you go prepared to tromp through it in the rain if that's ... read more

here are more machu picchu pics! we think the computer messed up and there is no order and there may be doubles... but they are great pics! and at the end are some pics from lake Titicaca at sunrise and the border crossing between peru and bolivia! YAY... read more

Because of the lack of time and money, we decided to take the PeruRail train to Machu Picchu. The train took off from Poroy station by Cuzco at around 730am. It takes about 4 and a half hours to get to Machu Picchu Pueblo, or previously known as Aguas Calientes. The views from the train are breathtaking. Mountains hidden by mountains and terraces full with crops for fruits and vegetables. Along the way you also get to see some Inca ruins on both sides of the train. It really is an unforgettable experience that every person should do sometime in their life. Around noon we reached Aguas Calientes, a tiny touristy town 20 minutes away from Machu Picchu. We ate some awesome Peruvian Mexican food and got everything settled for the hike up to the Machu ... read more