A gob smacking day

Saturday, October 15, 2016
Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley, Peru
I knew it would be a long day today so I skipped the tour yesterday and spent time in Cusco. Today I got up at 4.30am, packed loads of stuff to cover all weather possibilities, had breakfast and we were away by 5.30am. It was roughly a 2 hour drive to the train station along narrow mountain roads. It was made more 'exciting' when a mental driver on the other side decided to overtake right into the path of our bus! Our driver swerved off the road to avoid the nutter. Luckily it wasn't on 1 of the bits with no crash barriers and a sheer drop.

We got to the train station and we were soon on the train . It was panoramic so you could see through the glass roof. The landscape started pretty barren but so it changed to forest and the mountains were covered in trees - think Jurassic Park. The train ran right along side the river. The sun was shining and it all looked fantastic. Once we got to the other end there was a shuttle bus to take everyone up to the entrance. The serious uphill and up steps walking started soon after. Remember we're talking 2400 metres above sea level. It was worth it though. The guide had said take in the whole thing, not just the ruins but the mountains and sky as well. That first sight has to be 1 of the best I have ever seen - and that's saying something with the amount of travelling I've done. The guide took us round and explained everything. He had been going there since he was a kid when his dad was a guide. We were there for 3 hours and it flew by. Walking up and down for most of it too. We got the shuttle back down, had some lunch, then headed back to the train station. So far so normal . We got on the train and this is when things went a bit weird .....

On the way up we were served hot drinks and a snack. Then the same staff came down the carriage trying to sell souvenirs. It was the same drink and snack routine coming back but then 1 of the staff came out dressed up as this nightmare clown type thing and started dancing ... WHY? Then the other 2 staff put on a fashion show for clothes made from alpaca wool. I really mean a fashion show - them getting changed into a series of jumpers then using the bit up the centre if the carriage as a catwalk. All this was accompanied by creepy clown bloke howling. That was a very unexpected turn of events. Still it worked. There was a group of Japanese in the carriage and they bought stuff. 

Although it had threatened to it didn't rain but the sun is fierce at this height so I was covered in a charming combination of sweat, sun tan lotion and jungle strength insect repellant. As a result after a minor detour to the bar for a much needed vodka and tonic it was straight to my room for a long hot shower. 

I've a lay in tomorrow - 5.30am instead of 4.30am. It's an 8 hour drive across the Andes to Lake Titicaca. All very exciting!
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