Well it has been an amazing few days.
I began our three day hike on Sunday. This started in Lares Town which involved a visit to the Hot Springs and a condor Sanctuary. The Hot Springs were very hot and did look brown and murky but they were very relaxing, ironic as we hadn't even started any hiking at this point!
I spent the next three days hiking across what I can only describe as amazing scenery as we climbed up the Andean Highlands reaching 4628 m/15184 ft at the highest point (over half the height of Mount Everest. We met some of the Peruvians and visited a couple of their houses. It was staggering to see the children run up to us as we gave them fruit, bread, rice or pens. Their homes were so isolated and high up that the only food that grew their were potatoes. We even met an 89 year old man who was returning from collecting potatoes and had a huge load on his back.
We visited the home of a lady and we saw how she shared her bed with two young children, and what transpires as commonplace in homes in this area in a corner of the room were guinea pigs free to run around the room with a pile of straw. She even had a stuffed Puma in the room! As Guinea Pigs are considered a delicacy only occasionally would they kill and eat one.
I haven't eaten one yet, but have eaten Alpaca twice.
The camping was tough as it was so cold but we had a fantastic team of chief, waiter and horsemen. The latter would transport our duffel bags and all the equipment between sites and they moved so quickly but refusing to wear hiking shoes they all were open heel sandals! The food was delicious always ready straight away after a long hike, always fresh and filling. Chicken, fish with vegetables and potatoes after soup.
The 2nd day of hiking was the most difficult as we spent close to nine hours going uphill. I was so thankful I hired a walking stick! On the third day my legs were like wooden planks and I moved so slowly. It has proven to me that I need to do more exercise when I get home.
Arriving at Machu Picchu the next morning at 6 am was an amazing experience. It was shrouded in cloud and felt very mysterious. It is surrounded by mountains on all sides and looks so well preserved. We got to the best vantage point first before having a guided tour and exploring the various temples and learning more about the Incas. I visited the Inca Bridge and spent some time taking it all in. My best experience so far.
tagged as cusco tag leader javjav
Meshack's Peruvian cousin!.... With a tail not a lightning bolt ;)
Cusco, Peru at 3:58pm PET.
When we got back in the taxi to take us to our hostel, a massive rain storm was coming down!
Cusco, Peru at 3:36pm PET.
So Sean picked the place where we would stay in Peru, I'm not sure it been the best decision of his life... This is the first thing that happened...
Cusco, Peru at 12:35pm PET.
We then entered the sacred Valley and had a look around some incan ruins.
See the trip: Absolute Peru
Polly and me
We stopped off at an animal sanctary to look at some animals who had been poorly treated and were recovering here. There were pumas who had been working in a night club. Condors who had been poisoned. Parrots who had been pets and a deer who had been shot and lots more.
See the trip: Absolute Peru
Village women
We got on our bus to head to Ollantaytambo. We stopped off at the g adventure planatteria village they support to look at the women spinning and weaving.
See the trip: Absolute Peru
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