As we stood at the train station in Ollantaytambo waiting to board our train, it was becoming more difficult to contain the excitement of the next stage of our adventure. Machu Picchu here we come!. We mounted the train and was shown to our carriage where we put at a table set with white table cloth and set in readiness for silver service lunch. A glass of wine was most welcoming as we started to pull away from the station, the luxury train, “The Sacred Valley Train” certainly was of no disappointment and we were so pleased we had upgraded to travel this way. The lunch was divine and a lovely relaxing experience. The observation car was a delight as a photographer, as we rattled through the beautiful Urubamba Valley there was plenty of opportunity to click away capturing the sites through my lenses. Well done Llama Travel yet again giving us good advice and delivering on their promises.
The locals walking by were eager to wave and acknowledge the tourists on the train, I had to pinch myself, was this real were we truly on our way to see the amazing ruins of Machu Picchu.
We arrived at Machu Picchu town, all prepared to get the bus to the ruins, in anticipation of what we were about to witness. However, no one had or I suppose could have prepared us for this next part of the journey. Steep and scary understates what was in front of us. The bus driver manoeuvred expertly around the most dangerous corners and extremely steep drops. I must have missed a lot of the views as I had my eyes closed as I held my breath. I thought I had seen dangerous routes throughout my years of travel but this was certainly one of the top scary journeys. But what a wonderful driver, he safely got us to the top.
Wow, wow, wow………………. What a site. As our guide transversed his way through the ruins the sites were awesome. Snaking between small walkways and climbing steps the construction was unbelievable. The llamas went about their business as if no human was around. Camera ready, now for some serious photography. As there are now limitations on how many and how long you can stay in the Inca ruins it was time to leave and make our way to the hotel, our home for the next two evenings.
Eyes closed and breath held we made the steep journey back to Machu Picchu town to find our hotel the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo. A well deserved Pisco Sour and dinner with our wonderful fellow travellers before retiring for the night. What a day to remember!
Up bright and breezy to spend the morning in the Inca Ruins. The bus journey up to the ruins was still as steep and scary but well worth the butterflies in the stomach. This morning was to spend the time without a guide and at our leisure. We stayed with our new friends and wandered to see the Inca Bridge, you have to question how the Inca’s were able to create such precision without the tools of today. The Llamas grazed totally ignoring the tourists, what a splendid site, tranquil even amidst the abundance of site worshippers. Even having the opportunity to spend a second time amidst these wonderful ruins we still didn’t have the time to see it all. A friend once said “ if you don’t see it all then you have an excuse to go back again”. Peru is a country we hope to visit again at sometime.
Back down to the town and take the opportunity to look around. We sat in a local restaurant and enjoyed people watching over lunch and a cool drink. Amused to be so close to the train line, we observed the hustle and bustle of everyday life. What an oasis our hotel had been with beautiful grounds and pretty birds to only step out of the front entrance to what seems a different world.
As we left the restaurant we wandered through the streets only to come across a plaza which was a live with music and dance, a Carnival how exciting. The fiesta de las Cruces. The splendid costumes bright and beautiful filled the square, the wonderful people as always friendly and encouraging us to, join in the festivities. I was amused to see the musicians taking a break and one of the members a sleep on the bench. What a way to finish a wonderful day. Can this travel get any better?
It was time to catch our train back to Ollantaytambo, a wonderful dinner and lovely company with our fellow travellers. On arrival at the train station as always, Llama travel were waiting with the coach to take us back to Cusco where we checked into our hotel Aranwa Cusco Boutique.
Due to the strikes Llama Travel had rescheduled some of our tours ensuring we didn’t miss anything so tomorrow we were to travel to see The Salt Pans of Maras, a local community and Moray.
“All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveller is unaware” Martin Buber
Read my next blog on our adventures in Peru.
Elle Je` Travel 