Machu Picchu

The following day we did bugger all really? Partly due to the wine the night before but mostly, I think, we just needed a day of doing nowt. We pootled around, had breakfast and just chilled. By the time the afternoon was on us though we decided we´d take a walk up the river and take a look at the terraces further up the valley. It was a pleasant enough walk really but the temptation to stop at those houses with the red bags displayed was there! We were strong, we didn´t stop. We decided to have an early night as the following morning we had to be up at 4.45am!!

Luckily we´d packed everything the night before so it was just a case of getting up and grabbing Bodhi. All 3 of us bleary eyed and heading towards the station. We managed to jump in a motortaxi (called a tuk tuk in asia) and were soon there. I would have been OK if it not for the two, and I assumed they were israelies, folks sat infront of us. Kisses, rubbing nipples, rubbing cheeks together....WTF!? Just because your not allowed to do it in your country don´t go feckin´overboard when your not there! Get a room! Being british, I ignored it and turned the other cheek.

We sat and watched the scenery, we were roughly following the Urumbamba river and I actually found myself daydreaming about what it would be like to run it in a kayak. Something I´ve not dreamt about for years! We were soon there and found ourself standing in the crowd of people on the damp early morning dew soaked platform. First things first, lets go buy the entrance ticket. Luckily we were one of the first there so it wasn´t too bad and we were quickly sat eating breakfast, feeding Bodhi and changing his nappy.

We packed up the baby carrier, popped on the rain cover and started off through the town of Agua Caliente (a town basically there to suck the cash out of tourists en route to Machu Picchu). We wound ourselves through the confusing layout and eventually I asked a woman who explained, "No, you need to get a bus from here. You can buy tickets down there". A Bus? Tickets? eh!? As it turns out, Agua Caliente is the town in the Valley but to get to Machu Picchu you either walk for an hour and a half (but after being there I´m convinced it would be much more and a tough walk!) or you jump on the bus which happens to cost $14 each!

Shit...that was all our money.

The bus didn´t take too long as it wound itself across and up the mountain to the infamous Machu Picchu. In no time we weretrekking up a narrow path towards the classic viewpoint. The one from which all those photo´s are taken. We duly took our photo´s! It´s hard to describe what it´s like at Machu Picchu really. After all it´s just some old ruins, and not THAT ancient if we´re honest - about 600 years. We were expecting it to be heaving with tourists but, even though there were a lot, we´d timed it well and there wasn´t too many. We spent the whole morning there. Taking pictures marvelling at the spectacular sights, the scenery and the wildlife and even, if we´re honest, merely the fact we were there. With a 6 month old baby. Many people would let, and in fact do let, having a child stop them in their tracks. "Can´t do this", "mustn´t do that", when in reality most things are possible with just a bit of planning, compromise and dare I say it...daring? The day was filled with the unspoken pride in our journey so far. The morning was great, walking along admiring the place. Getting kicked off the terraces for having a kick ass picnic of pringles and bottled water! We´re just down right rebels! lol!

We´d managed to get a great photo of Bodhi at the ruins, one which hopefully will remind him anythings possible.

We headed back down and on the bus down ran into 4 old folks from Leamington, Claire was sure she recognised them from the Nuffield or something? We got chatting and it turns out one of their son´s runs a company taking treks in Mongolia. We´re thinking that could be our next trip - horseriding along Mongolia. So we took the details, watch this space.

After a money counting exercise at one of the cafés (we´d used most of our cash for the bus fare!) we were soon on the train back to Ollantaytambo. Not after realising we were waiting in the wrong place, being re-directed through another tourist market and eventually finding the right station!

The rest of the afternoon was spent chilling and resting after such and early start. It was a great day and in many ways the zenith, and purpose, of the trip.