First off, let me start with the bad news. No pictures today :( We can access this computer's USB port so you are gonna have to wait in suspense until tomorrow. "Although the pictures cant tell you...(shakes his head)..."- DadWe started off this morning bright and early. We woke up at 6, packed the rest of our things in our bags (which we left at our hotel in Ollantaytambo because it was too big [Dad: "Thats what she said"]) and went downstairs for breakfast. We had delicious pancakes with banana. While we were eating, the cook's daughter peeked around the corner so of course the candyman sprang into action. She sat with us through breakfast and yelled "Caio! Amigos" when we left. She couldnt have been more than 3. We boarded the Orient Express and left the station at 7:45. This train leads all the way from Cusco to the gateway to Machu Picchu, Aguas Caliente. We picked it up half way down in Ollantaytambo. We were seated in the midst of a tour group with some guy from Texas who thought he was a comedian. guh. About halfway through Dad got this little box to pop up over the pictures he took so of course he stressed over that the rest of the way. The train ride was awesome thought, taking us through several of Peru's climates. The whole time I kept expecting to go through the primeival world or grand canyon like at Dland but no such luck. I have to admit…this was a tad bit better.We pulled into Aguas Caliente and unlike the other people on the train we were on our own. It is an awesome little town full of markets and merchants selling their wares. We ran to teh bus station hoping to get up to our hotel (which is located at the entrance to Machu Picchu, the only hotel you can get that is actually around the citadel). Only, we found out that not only did we need to purchase bus tickets up but our entrance to the citadel as well! We rushed around (me using my limited spanish skills) and finally found the place. We were unsure as to whether or not the hotel had tickets for us but decided to buy them anyway. We ran to the bus and were finally on our way.
After the 15 minute bus ride up the hill we finally pulled up to our hotel. It is literally right outside the entrance gates to Machu Picchu. We are staying at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, an Orient Express hotel. They showed us to our room (which thankfully has a bathroom...when we booked it we were told it would have a shower but no toilet). We dropped our stuff off and made our way into Machu Picchu. Nothing can prepare you for a glimpse of Machu Picchu. It is much bigger than I could have ever imagined. Even if we could post pictures tonight, it would not do it justice. We wandered around for a while just getting the feel for the place. It was a beautiful experience just to walk around taking it all in. There are llamas who live in the citadel and simply graze all day. You have to watch where you walk, there not coffee beans, its llama caca. There were a lot of tourists though.Luckily we found some camera guru who fixed dad's camera. Then we went back to the room to rest before our tour which was scheduled at 2pm.Dad wasnt feeling well so we hung around the room before heading to the lunch buffet. All of our food and drinks are included in the price of the room (which explains why dad and I are sitting at the bar right now drinking and blogging. We are trying to get some of dad's $815 back by drinking it back. So far we are at $38 but the night is young. We're aiming for $200 ;) The lunch buffet had a whole roasted pig (with the head I might add) and was delicious! After that we headed to the room to rest and figure out what movie to get from the front desk tonight.
We met our guide Miguel at 2 in the lobby. He took us around the citadel but first made us sit down so he could explain that Machu Pichu was a sacred place, a place for the Inka people to connect with nature and their gods. It was a place for them to learn. He equated it to a University. He said around 700 people lived in the citadel but only stayed for a limited time. He showed us the sundial the Inkas used to keep their calendar, the guest house for visiting Inka royalty and the Sun temple. He took us all around Machu Pichu for 2 hours before taking us to the edge of the cliffs and explaining to us the importance of Coca. I didn't let on that dad was actually a coca expert and recovering addict but listened intently anyway. When he offered us a taste of the coca of course dad perked up like a fat lady when they bring out the birthday cake at a kids birthday party. I regret to inform you readers, that I also succumb to the peer pressure and partook in the coca myself. It wasn't half bad but didn't really like it. Dad had been dying all day; he hadn't been feeling well but hung in there like a trooper but now claims that the coca made him feel better.
So for now we have returned back to the hotel. Dad is feeling real good and muttering things for me to add into the blog. We have dinner reservations at 7 and then we'll retire to the room to watch movies and relax. We have an early morning tomorrow, hoping to watch the sunrise over Machu Picchu.
Tomorrow we take the train back to Ollantaytambo where we will continue on for a day of relaxation in Urumbamba. Hopefully I will be able to post another entry tomorrow of just pictures from Machu Picchu but I don't know what the internet situation will be. Be patient. Thanks for reading!
Adios!
