The Big Daddy in the Sky & Yes I Ate a Guinea Pig- Day 7

I think I´ve now taken my sister on every mode of transportation available in South America, outside of the donkey or alpaca variety.

With a jam packed itinerary we decided to take PERURAIL´s Vistadome train up to Aguas Calientes (the town 20mins south of Machu Picchu). Seated in the classy part of the train we enjoyed the stunning views of the towering hills above us for the 90min ride and silently agreed that doing the Inca trail just isn´t our thing.   We were met by our guide Elenor when we disembarked at 8.30am and as is our style,  got right to the business of seeing Machu Picchu...

Here´s the image you´ve all seen a million times but is still extrordinary when viewed through your own eyes.  

The place is already ram packed at 9am (two hours before the backpacker train arrives each day) and in the off season. I can´t even imagine what it would be like at high season and I completely understand why those who do the 4 day Inca trail feel frustrated when they arrive and see so many people already wandering around what I am sure has become in their minds ¨their sacred place¨ after such effort. Sorry folks.  

Elenor explained the hierarchy of the Inca people (for example the top honcho´s were really the only ones called Incas, then there is noblety and then the common folk). How frustrating that must be for the Kingpin Incas in the afterlife (that I don´t believe in) ... to know that we now refer to them all as Inca´s.  


Pretty hard once again to capture the scenery of the place but we did take a few to show that we made the visit. Also wanted to be sure to show the height of where we were finding ourselves. I realize that this was a strategic spot to put a village to ensure you were protected etc but can you imagine the effort?

Since Machu Picchu was the part of the trip that I left Kyla to plan we ended up booking the Inkaterra Hotel in Aguas Calientes. You really have to check out the website because I think this is the nicest hotel I have EVER stayed in. EVER.   http://www.inkaterra.com/en/machu-picchu. I´d show you photos but this blog is killing me and won´t load them. Just check out the site. It´s all real.

What a place to come back to after hiking around the ruins for the morning. After the hottest shower I´ve had in weeks and some time in the Cafe computer area we headed over to the bar to enjoy our complimentary Pisco Sour (common drink of Peru which we both loved) we headed into the formal dining room (which we were not properly dressed for, having only brought an overnight bag as PERURAIL stated our backpacks would be too large). Not sure how many of you know this but Guinea Pig is traditional meal in Peru and I have a rule that I have to try any traditional fare available to me when I travel. Below here is what guinea pig looks like at a classy joint. For some reason it won´t post in the spot I want it to. Even though Kyla said it made her gag to think I was eating it she gave it a try. Don´t let her tell you otherwise.

Tomorrow we head back to Machu Picchu to hike Waynapicchu which is supposed to be super scary and steep. Of course the day starts at 5.30am again. What luck.
xox b