Puno Weather fine, temperature 19 to -2 degrees
Cusco Weather fine, temperature 21 – 3 degrees
3,300 metres above sea level
 
Today was a day on the Orient Express Andean Explorer . We spent from 8am to 6.30pm which was 10 and a half hours on the train but it only felt like 5 hours. There was plenty of landscape to admire with us reaching the peak which was 4,319 metres where we stopped and were able to get out for a photo of the Andes Mountains. A couple even had snow on it. You guessed it there were tourist markets up there too. In Juliaca there are markets for the locals which straddle the tracks. When the train comes they pack up the stalls on the tracks and put them back up after the train has come through. One book stall owner has worked out the height of the train carriage so that he leaves a few stacks of books on the train line so that the train goes over them without knocking them over. As you can see the stalls are so close to the tracks in Australia they would not allow it because it is too dangerous. Even when the train stops there are children who attempt to sell to the tourists.

During the journey to keep all of the passengers entertained they have musicians from Puno and a dancer in traditional costumes as well as musicians from Cusco and a dancer in a traditional dance costumes. All of the travellers were given a free Pisco Sour (local cocktail). Other activities on offer were the barman demonstrate how the Picso Sour is made but we are already experts, and fashion show by the train staff to show alpaca items and happy hour was 2 for the price of 1. The last carriage on the train was a viewing carriage and it is next to the bar.

Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea was served during this time and of course all very nice.

It was a bit chilly on our evening arrival to Cusco this evening as it seems that the temperatures tend to plummet after the sun goes down.