The Return |
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| After having rushed our way up and down Huayna Picchu (Josh and I that is...) we met up with our group at the site entrance and proceeded to wait on the tourist bus to take us back down the mountain... Although I had been worried that just one day at Machu Picchu would not be enough, given the weather and the quickly dissipating energy level of myself and the group, when we finally sat down on a public transport, it felt pretty good to just relax. |
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Had the weather been better I might have had some inclination to stay longer (especially if I had had the option to stay in Aguas Calientes and return to Cuzco the next evening), but under the circumstances I think the quick hike up Huayna Picchu was enough to make the prospect of a hot shower hard to resist. I include the photo above just to show the switchbacks. The bus makes it way down the mountain down this road and by virtue of switching back and forth alternate sides of the bus get exposed to the precipice! We were entertained by a young kid in colorful native garb who ran the entire distance down the mountain cutting across the switchbacks and yelling at the bus at each turn. Of course at the bottom he got on board to gather coins and pose for pictures. |
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Aguas CalientesAt Aguas Calientes we got a quick bite to eat before boarding the train. What you see here is essentially what you get: dozens of little stalls selling all the tourist paraphernalia you would expect plus a smattering of hotels and little restaurants. Possibly a place to spend the night to extend your stay at Machu Picchu but not much more to offer than that.
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The trip back from Aguas Calientes was uneventful (and quiet!). We ate and made it to the train station just in time to hustle to the train. Since this was the 'tourist train' it had comfortable seats and high, vista windows. The tracks skirt the Urubamba River which at this time of year was raging. The water is dark brown and incredibly violent in places - like chocolate milk in a blender! |
| The afternoon was quite nice, turning progressively more sunny as we
continued down the valley. We got off at Ollantaytambo and moved our bags to a van which
took us through the hills, through the town of Urubamba and Chincharro and on to Cuzco,
arriving a few hours ahead of schedule.
The view out the train window... More ruins seen from a distance... After a hot shower and sleeping in a clean bed, most of the group seemed no worse for wear. Josh, Yugi and I left early the next day and spent the day together in Lima before catching our individual international flights back towards home.
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This is the end of the narrative portion of this virtual tour through the Sacred Valley, along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and all I can say is, that if you have gone through the entire thing from start to finish, this possibly qualifies your stamina for a trip down the ACTUAL Inca Trail!... (Go Here for some suggestions on preparing for that trip...) If you spent any time on the web site at all, drop me an email or leave a note on the bulletin board and let me know what you think. Also on the web site:
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Guidebooks, Maps, Books, Music and more... Click Here
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- The Trek to Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu