early start with fingers crossed for fine weather. Initially it didn't look too promising, it was cool and overcast as we boarded the train  to urumba station. This was mainly downhill as Machu Picchu is lower than Cusco. From Machu Picchu station to Machu Picchu itself  has to be undertaken by bus. So we joined the queue with hundredis of other tourists. However there were many buses so we didn't have to wait too long. They ride was adventurous and the...

Today we started the last lap of our great adventure, the journey through the Sacred Valley which will evevtualy lead us to Machu Picchu. The lovely weather has at last deserted us. The day started off cool and overcast and this eventually became cold and wet. On the descent down into the valley we stopped at a llama farm which had every variety of llama. This was interesting but it was really only an excuse to have a large shop selling a wide variety of garments...

Yet another very early morning this time to catch the train from Puno to Cusco. This journey took 10 hours which given the apparent age of the train and a maximum speed of 30mph is hardly surprising. Still this was a tourist special so the seats were like armchairs and they supplied plenty of food and drink it help pass the time. We arrived on time and once again I had a large spacious room . The hotel is near the centre of the town so went for a walk. The street...

A tour of Cusco to start with. The cathedral was our first port of call. It was built by the invading Spaniards using the existing Inca temple as the base. Then on Saqsaywaman the site of a massive Inca temple. The base layers are massive granite stones which have shaped to fit incredibly well. We then return to Cusco and I spent the time just wandering round the narrow streets. In the evening I went to a nearby restaurant and ordered piglet and received the bigg...

I didn't sleep too well. I just felt cold, this in spite of the fact that I kept the heater on all night and had the duvet from the spare bed. Still the day dawned bright and clear and the temperature rose steadily. We drove up Colca Canyon which provided us with some splendid views. The end of the Canyon is supposed to be a good viewing spot for seeing Condors. So, along with a few hundred other tourists, we sat, if you could find a comfortable rock to sit on, o...