We are awake early for our departure to beat the social disturbances and strikes. We board the bus at around 6:30 AM and head off in the direction of the Hydro Electric Plant. Along the way we enjoy more wonderful “Cloud Forest” vegetation and the bumpy back roads of the Peruvian countryside. Along the way there are several times when our guides and Wakiis have to get out of the bus to clear large boulders and tree stumps from the road that are left over from yesterdays demonstrations and were used to block the roads.
We arrive at the hydro electric station where the train should have departed from to find out we made a good decision no trains have run yesterday and it is likely none will run today either. Instead we begin a 7 mile hike up the mountain to Machu Picchu Village. The trail is rather steep, for us not so bad, but for the Wakii porters who are each carrying two of our luggage duffle bags it is amazing – and they are going faster than any of us!! After about three hours we reach the town and head off immediately to lunch at a local restaurant. Carlos and the rest of the support staff have departed at this point as we will be checking into a normal hotel from here on in. Joseph, our wonderful assistant guide will head back to Cusco on the afternoon train as well leaving only our main guide, Jesus, to shepherd us the rest of the way.
Our hotel turns out to be outstanding, the Inkaterra Machu Picchu. Set on the bank of the river it has an unbelievable atmosphere. We were originally planning on only staying one night before transitioning to a less expensive hotel once the tour ended for our extra day in Machu Picchu. Instead we decided to stay in this hotel and as a result they us an incredible upgrade to a superior suite, including its own lunge area with fireplace, private outdoor Jacuzzi and shower, and a half bottle of Pisco liquor to help settle us in! The absolute over the top winner was that they also upgraded Kelsey and Nick to the same type of room – Outstanding!! It later turned out we could not stay the second night as our original hotel would not release us from the no-show fee (even though it was the same ownership), but none-the-less they did not take our fabulous rooms away from us and we had a great transition from mountain lodge (luxurious as they were) back into civilization (I could learn to love this version of civilization!!)
We ate in the hotel dining room that night with a great example of local cuisine. I had a local appetizer of stuffed pepper followed by a trout cooked with lemongrass and a dessert of orange cheese cake. The most difficult thing on this trip will be to try to explain to people how it is I was trekking through the mountains for 4 – 6 – 8 hours a day and still managed to gain weight! The food and the service throughout the trip have been beyond superb and first class all the way! The Peruvian people have been consistently friendly, helpful and genuinely happy to see us and make us welcome. We never once, even in the middle of the demonstrations felt at all in any kind of danger or not being absolutely welcome to share everything that is Peru.
Tomorrow is the BIG day – we head up to the top of the mountain to view the highlight of our trip – the ruins of Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas. We are all excited beyond belief and can barely wait to get going!!
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