Machu Picchu was pretty amazing, and we had fabulous weather. Mist hung on the mountains, and we put our pack covers on at one point, when we felt raindrops, but it was never more than a few drops. It is quite an amazing place. I was fascinated by the water drainage throughout MP. Also aqueducts bringing fresh water in, and cascading over several fountains. Lammas roam everywhere, and are probably friendlier than domesticated Lammas. You can walk right up to them, and they just look at you as if to say " you aren't going to make me move, are you?" little houses at the top of the world. Just amazing! And to think they did it all in less than 90 years!! That is a pretty industrious undertaking!! The place is HUGE!! It looks smaller in pictures, but you don't realize that over every slope is loads more! Terraces that are created with stone retaining walls are absolutely everywhere! It reminded me of the way beavers make dams in crazy places for no discernable reason. You certainly don't need a stair master when you plan a trip to MP. Very little is level. It is all climbing stairs up or climbing stairs down. The stairs are all 10-14 inches high too. All paths are cobbled in rough rock. Definitely a place to watch your footing CAREFULLY!! Don't worry, Sierra was looking after me. She made sure I had time to take pictures while stationary!! She said, "no broken bones on this trip! If you want a picture, just stop and take your time!!" Lol! Wise girl. Not a good place for a tumble!! I can't even imagine where you would stop! Sierra was on the ball today- i put all my money in my money belt, and then left it locked in the hostel! Sierra paid the taxi driver, and i had 100 american in 50s hidden in my shoe, so we used one of the $50s for the bus that takes you from the train station to MP and back. Sierra will pay the taxi driver on the way back too, but is already planning on bartering for a cheaper rate. I am not so good at that. They like to say they don't have enough change, so it's a good thing Sierra had money, or it would have been a $50 taxi ride!!! At least I remembered all the tickets!!! On the train ride there We talked to a man who had moved to Columbia from Switzerland (following a woman is what he said) He said there are still lots of very dangerous places there, and that the safer places are largely undeveloped. He also said that they rarely drink coffee, and if they do, it's instant coffee!! Crazy. We have had some funny coffee adventures- often in tiny expresso cups, sometimes with hot water to put the expresso in- like adding concentrated coffee to hot water, and never any cream. Sierra asked for cream for the coffee in one place, and she got a bowl of sour cream and a fruit preserve!! On the way back from MP we talked to a couple from Chech republic. They knew all about our hockey teams! Lol!! Very nice couple. They had that comfortable togetherness that only comes with being together a long time. Made me miss my hon, and also made me grateful for him. Tomorrow we are going to some terraced salt mines, and an Incan Agricultural Area (also terraced haha). Then we are taking a night bus to Arequipa. After that Tacna, then crossing into Chile. We will have no WiFi for the next 4 days at least, so don't worry if you don't hear from us, this is a very popular border crossing- 24 hours and not sketchy, so don't worry. This will be a long bus trip, and we will be just traveling, and sleeping on the bus wherever possible. Hence, no wi fi. Love you all!! I took some pics of MP with my phone, so I will try to post those here too. The wifi at the hostel cuts in and out a bit,so loading isn't always easy. Talk to you soon!