Hi Everyone, I am now in Cusco and have already visited Machu Picchu . When I arrived I was unable to get a place on the traditional Inca trail hike but met a German girl who recommended an alternative trek to me which is also taking 4 days but includes one day downhill mountain biking.

So I signed up for the same and left the next morning. It was a rainy day and we drove about 3 hours up a mountain to a village where we started cycling down for about 4 hours to Santa Maria, our first stop. We got really wet and dirty as we cycled through mud and water flows across the roads.

On the trip there were 3 couples from Europe and a guy from Quebec in Canada and the guide, a Peruvian dude who turned out to be a lazy guide who doesn't want to walk and was not much use in terms of information about flora and fauna. He was good at making joints though!

The first night was ok and in the morning we left on our first day hike to Santa Theresa. We walked up a mountain until we got to a start of an original Inca trail. We followed this one along the jungle to a house on the very top where we had a rest. I am sooo unfit still, it's unbelievable. The day was lovely though and the view amazing! After the break we walked to where we are having lunch, all the way to the bottom. They cooked us a lovely homemade soup and main dish. It was really good. We then carried on walking all the way to Santa Theresa along the river through the jungle.

Santa Theresa was a horrible place but apparently a lot of tourists come here now which aren't welcome at all. For a start one of the guys on the trek was shown the finger by an old indigenous woman when he said 'hola' to her! That night we stayed in a shed, where I had to pay an extra doller just to get hot water. I thought this is the minimum that I should expect as part of the trip for which I paid $185!

Anyway, after having dinner that came with lemonade inclusive of ants, we went to a local disco for some drinks. There we were the only ones and the place was really interesting inside. They used egg holders as decoration and the pictures on the wall couldn't be more varied in terms of artists, places and local people. The highlight of being in that town was, that at 3am in the night we had to move hostel, as the neighbours were not turning down the music for the sleeping tourists unless we pay them. When they called the Police, they almost joined the party instead of closing it down! Crazy place!!!

The next day we carried on hiking and our tour guide had to come. He wanted to take the bus and make us pay extra because he was too lazy to walk, but the group decided against him and we left early! So we walked all day quite a dull road and railtrack along the river and only stopped off for lunch at a remote place where we could fish some trout which was then our meal. Unfortunately we didn't catch many and had to share which meant we carried on walking still hungry!

It was sooo nice to finally arrive at Agua Calientes which is on the foot of Machu Picchu. I never felt so dirty, wet and smelly in my entire life and thank god the hostel we stayed at was nice and it had free hot showers! Many bars and restaurants were offering 4 for 1 happy hour and we thought we take up that seemingly amazing offer after dinner. We noticed that this town was quite expensive, but they are just brilliant in ripping you off. I have never had a smaller Mojito and one that looked like that - check out the pictures. Funnily they managed to make it taste slightly like it!

On the next day we finally climbed up Machu Picchu. Apparently there are 1170 steps but a friend counted over 1400. It took me almost two hours and again I was the last one to arrive on top, but hey I made it in time to meet the guide! And it was soooo worth it. Machu Picchu is just amazing. The view is just incredible. Apparently it has been built in the mid 15th century by the Incas but they fled when the Spanish came. Surprisingly enough the Spanish could never find it and so it was unharmed until it was discovered in 1890 by some Peruvian and then rediscovered by an American in 1911. You can read up on it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machu_Picchu

Additionally, the day was just gorgeous and I managed to climb up to the sun gate to have the best view. The view I missed as I couldn't do the original Inca trail. Well, I took the train half way back to Cusco.

Today I am leaving Cusco for Lake Titicaca but first I am having a Sunday Roast at this amazing hostel here! Yummy!!!