So Machu Picchu is amazing and the photos don't do it justice. We had a beautiful sunny day, which was a relief after all we went through the past couple of days.
After the disaster that dinner was, I called mum and had a bit of a cry. It really hit me how much I wanted to finish the Lares Trek. I've never done something like that before but I guess I will have to come back and do it again.

We met at 5.30am to get the bus up to Machu Picchu. Bus after bus leaves to head up the winding road to the entrance. We all got our passports stamped with the Machu Picchu stamp. 4 of us had decided to climb Huayna Picchu (young mountain) and our guide took us to the checkpoint to get our tickets for the 10am start while the others climbed to the top for the amazing view to wait for us. With tickets in hand we climbed up the steps to join them and admire the view. We then started our guided tour with John. For 2 hrs we wandered around the site while he explained different things to us.

It really is all speculation and guesswork about what they really did here, but the King didn't live here full time. He lived in Cuzco. To see the structures they built and how they have lasted is incredible. There are different temples and a sundial which was more for the months and seasons. We saw the rest of the group that did the Inca Trail come in. They were all tired but excited to have finished. That was a bit difficult for us as we were the total opposite about our trek.

Once we finished the tour, we had some snacks and headed to the entrance to Huayna Picchu to begin our climb. It was tough. All steps up and some of them were big steps. At times, there was a hand rail to help you up. We took our time and just under an hour later we made the top. There was a beautiful view of Machu Picchu, surrounding valleys and the road up to the site. Juliette didn't do it because she doesn't like heights - she made the right decision. The 4 of us that did it were glad we did and that we got to finish it - felt like we accomplished something - smelt like it to.......

After sitting up top for a while and enjoying the vista we headed down. That was tough on the legs. Glad to see the exit. The others headed out but I headed back to the top of Machu Picchu so I could take a short video. Forgot to do it earlier. Legs were a bit wobbly once I made it. Then went out, met up with them and we got the bus back down. Once back in Aguas Calientes, we had a quick lunch and then we got the train back to Ollyantaytambo. From there a bus to Cuzco and the hotel. Glad to be back. There were a few more tears shed by us girls but time will heal all wounds. We have the amazing memory of Machu Picchu and our climb up Huayna Picchu.