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I´m going to make this short because I hate all the computers in Cusco and this probably won´t work anyways.
Friday evening, Vidal from Holiday Adventures Peru (the company we booked our Machu Picchu trip with) met us at our Hostel in Ollantaytambo to go over our Inca Trail hike and Machu Picchu visit. Vidal obviously loves his job. He was very excited, animated, and genuinely interested in providing his tourists the best experience he can. We could have easily done this trip on our own without a guide or agency (minus the Inca Trail which requires a certified guide), but we both (me) really wanted to do the Inca Trail. After reading several glowing reviews on the net about Vidals´company, we decided to go for it and both of us were extremely satisfied.
Thankfully Susan was feeling much better Saturday AM when Vidal picked us up from our hostel. We were taken to the train station about 30 minutes away, the whole time Vidal talking enthusiastically about his culture and what we were going to experience. After about an hour train ride, the train stopped in the middle of the high mountain jungle at KM 104 where we
were met by our amazing guide, Celso. What a cool guy he turned out to be. Once a porter (like Vidal they both worked their way up from carrying bags and food) and now an amazing tour guide. Educated in the local Cusco university, once on the trail it was obvious to us both that Celso was in love with his culture, his history, and his natural environment. Every question we asked, he had an answer for. Names of plants in his native Quechua language as well as scientific nomenclature. Tons of little facts about Inca kings, pre-Incan cultures, Hiram Bingham (credited w discovering MP), and theories provided by his own Cusceñan professors.
I´m not going to talk too much about the trail itself, other than it was probably the hardest and probably the most beautiful hike I have ever done. Holy crap, so amazing! I can´t get a direct response from anyone on how long it was, but I´ve been quoted anywhere between 11 and 16KM. I´m thinking closer to 11KM, about 7 miles. Either way it was uphill about 80% of the time! For 7 hours and about a 650 meter climb (2000ft)!!!! Hard as Hell, but
the most rewarding experience. I´ll have to give Susan props, cuz she was a real trooper! This trail is not for the faint of heart. Very cool to see the and feel the changes in environment as we climbed deeper into the cloud forrest. About 6 hours later, we arrived at the Sun Gate for our desent into Machu Picchu. Such a beautiful site to see. Another hour walk downhill to the bus, we arrived in Aguas Calientes (small tourist town at the base of MP).
Once we arrived in Aquas Calientes, we were dead tired, but had to meet Celso at 5:30AM (to beat the crowds) for our full day in Machu Picchu including a 2.5 hr tour given by Celco. I´ll have to say again, what a great guide! We couldn´t have asked for a better way to experience this magical place. Yes, I said magical. I know Susan feels the same way.
Anyway, we spent most of the day Monday shopping for gifts, hanging out, and ended the evening with a fantastic dinner in the San Blas neighborhood. A great way to see off my favorite travel companion. Tuesday morning I escorted Susan to the
airport and off she went to Los Angeles to snuggle on the couch with the kitties.
So I´m still here in Cusco. Yesterday was spent trying to find a decent internet cafe where everything on the computer worked properly. This one is pretty OK. A newer laptop. Let´s see how it works uploading pics. After talking w- the tour company in Bolivia, I decided to fly to La Paz Thurs, tomorrow. If everything is stable, I´ll go to Madidi National Park in the Amazon basin and spend 3 days at the Chalalan Ecolodge. If the strikes are still going strong, I´ll readjust my schedule (per Andrea @ Kanoo tours, my best bet) and go to the altiplano (high plains) in southern Bolivia and the Salar de Uyuni. Either way, it´s going to be an adventure.
Since I´m flying in and not driving as previously planned, I needed to get my Bolivian Visa approved and my paperwork sorted out. The guidebook I have said it would be no problem getting a tourist visa at the border. That´s driving though and they can keep me from coming in if I don´t have everything they require (proof of yellow fever vac,
return ticket, hotel res for first night, etc). I didn´t know this untill I got to the Bolivian Consulate 15 minutes from my hostel and all my flight info. Luckily there was an internet cafe across the street and a bank to make a payment of $135 for my visa. Valid for 5 years I might add. Most tourist visas are 30-90 days.
Well, it seems like I have all my ducks in order and I´m just waiting untill my flight tomorrow AM. Gonna try to upload some pics and then get some dinner.
Fingers crossed. Again.
Oh, for strangers who read this and are interested, here is the link to Vidals´company. I can´t recommend him enough.
http://www.adventureholidaysperu.com/
EDIT
I uploaded pics, but not sure how I got doubles of everything and it is way too time consuming to sort this crap out. Travelblog isn´t very user friendly.
Enjoy!
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Colleen
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Sounds like you're having a blast!! Please be safe, B Swizzle!