It was everything I hoped for ….. and then some.  Of course I’m talking about Machu Picchu.  Our day once again started early with a 5am wake up call and on the bus by 6.45am.

It was raining as we left the hotel at Urubamba – which of course is to be expected since it is after all the rainy season here  and Machu Picchu gets almost 2000mm rain a year.  First we had to go by our little minibuses back to Ollantaytambo where we were yesterday.  From there we boarded the vistadome train (a bit like the Rocky Mountaineer) for the 46km journey to Aguas Calientes from where you get on another bus up to Machu Picchu.  The train had great big windows and you could see the Urubamba river rushing madly alongside – it’s running really high at the moment after lots of recent rains.  We were told that a recent Princess Tour hadn’t been able to reach Machu Picchu as there had been a massive landslide over the track.  How devastating would that have been?

It was still raining a bit when we arrived in Aguas Calientes and we got off the train.   Of course by now we’ve only got two carryon bags and as we got off the train the bellboys from our hotel Sumaq in Aguas Calientes collected them from us and took them straight to the hotel.  It feels kind of weird – we’ve currently got luggage in three different hotels in Peru!  So we walked through the markets, over the bridge adorned with padlocks and down the street to the bus station where we got on one of the very many buses which runs back and forwards from Aguas Calientes up to the Machu Picchu site.  Its an interesting ride with hairpin bend after hairpin bend as you wind your way up to the site entrance.  It takes about 25 minutes.  And so we arrived at the site entrance handed over our tickets and our guide Miguel led us up the first part of the climb where you can first see the famous city of Machu Picchu.  It ‘s just a steady climb up steps with some ramps but the steps are made of stones so very uneven so you need to keep your wits about you or you could easily slip or trip.  I cant explain the feeling when we reached the top of that first section and I got my first view of Machu Picchu – I’ve wanted to experience it for so long and I was just filled with awe and wonder.   We took some photos there (some of goodness how  many for the day).

Then we carried on up the next section where we saw llamas and arrived at what’s known as the guards house.  Along the way Miguel was explaining lots about the Incas and what they believed and how they worked.  By this time it had become fine and the sun was peeping through though there was still a lot of high level mist but that only adds to the wonder and magic of this amazing place.  We continued our exploration at this level with Miguel showing us where the Sun Gate was (the end of the famous Inca Trail) eventually coming to the main gate to the city.  We saw the Temple of the Three Windows and the Main Temple and then climbed up to Inithuatana (the sun dial).  The skies had pretty well cleared by this time so the views were absolutely fantastic. We worked our way down exploring the terraces and a priests house and then visited the Temple of the Sun and finally the Temple of the Condor.  I’m sure I’ve missed out bits but it was so wonderfully overwhelming that I’m still trying to get my head around that I’ve actually been here 

We’d spent about three hours around the site and then we made our way back to the entrance where there’s a restaurant and we had an included lunch there – another delicious buffet.

Then we got back on one of the many buses and came back down to Aguas Calientes.  We checked into our hotel – another beautiful one and then I had this hankering to follow up on a suggestion Clive had made to me.  Way back – not sure how long ago maybe 12 or 15 years ago when he and a group of friends were backpacking round South America they’d spent a day at Machu Picchu – not sure whether they did the trek first or not.  Anyway he recommended we go to the hot springs – which is what Aguas Calientes means.   He said it was a great way to ease your aching muscles and relax and enjoy a beer.  So we got instructions from the hotel and they gave us towels and off we set.  The hotel said it was about a 20 minute walk.  What neither Clive nor the hotel had mentioned was that it was like another bloody climb up Machu Picchu.  Must say at this point Mr Porter wasn’t exactly over the moon but bless him he humoured me.  So we arrived at the springs – there are baths of varying temps but we opted for the 37oC one, ordered a beer and proceeded to let the warm water ease our tight muscles.  Great suggestion Clive and saved us a fortune – sum total of admission and two beers was 60 soles – around $20.  Most of the rest of the group went to the markets and didn’t get off so lightly!

And of course it was downhill back to the hotel.  We quickly got changed and headed into dinner and briefing at 6.30pm.  Now this tour gives the option of doing a return trip tomorrow very early in the morning – you can’t watch the sunrise at Machu Picchu but you can watch it coming over the mountain.   However the forecast was for rain.  The admission, bus fare etc was already included in our cruise tour price but it meant being up and ready to go in the lobby by 5.15am.  Dinner tonight was once again absolutely delicious.

Had a funny incident on the way back to our room.  We were on the 5^th floor and Craig had left his card keeping the aircon going and I’d taken my room card.  It had spent most of the meal sitting on top of my mobile.  Anyway we get off the lift and try to get our room door to open – no joy.  After several attempts I suggest Craig sits and waits on a bench in the hallway just outside our room and I’ll shoot back down and get the card replaced.  Which I did.  I came back up to the 5^th floor, came out the lift and there’s no Craig and even stranger there’s no bench.  Meanwhile down on the 4^th floor – yes that’s right we’d got out a floor too early – Craig’s sitting on the bench and along come two people and proceed to go into what he thought was our room!  That when it dawned on him what we’d done.  So just as I was thinking I’d better go and look for him he arrived via the stairs.  Pair of silly buggers!

So did we go?  You’ll have to wait to my next post to find out