We set off from Cusco early for our day trip into the Sacred Valley. Our first stop of the day was at a GAP sponsored local community project. It was a tiny village hidden away down a dusty track. Encompassed by snow capped peaks which peeked out from underneath the clouds, it was an altogether different reality to the hustle and bustle of the tourist Mecca that is Cusco. The idea behind the project is to prolong and encourage traditional Andean culture. With financial aid, the community is able to continue life in largely the same manner as the generations that preceeded them. We were treated to a demonstration on the process of weaving, which included being shown how the alpaca fur that they used is coloured (a variety of methods including plant dyes and crushed beatles). Weaving has played a pivotal role in Andean culture and the idea behind the project is to stop the traditional methods from dying out. We stayed a while longer, some of us purchasing some Alpaca from small stalls and then continued along the mountain pass that would take us into the valley. The road clung to the side of the mountains, as the valley of the mighty Urubamba river snaked its way charismatically into the distance. The Sacred Valley is dominated and defined by the river, and we would be loosely following its course all the way to Machu Pichu. We stopped a couple of times for photos before arriving at Pisac, our first Inca site within the Sacred Valley. The ruin sits atop a hill at the entrance to the valley, with (you guessed it) a stunning view into the valley below. The ruins are somewhat sprawling, seperated into four sections along a mountain ridge, whilst Inca and Pre Inca terraces stretch spectacuarly down the mountainside dominating the surrounding view. After some explanation about the site, we continued further into the valley, stopping briefly for lunch.

After lunch we visited a slightly strange place. It was, to describe it simplistically an local Andean pub come Guinea Pig farm (Guinea Pig is the local dish of the Sacred Valley). We were introduced to the local drink, called Chicha. Basically fermented maize. The easiest way to describe the taste sensation (which wasn`t really a sensation at all) is to call it a cross between Vinegar and completey flat beer. Wasn`t really to my liking, but I took a couple of sips to please our host who took great delight when ever anybody praised the drink. The Guinea pig farm, was....well a farm of Guinea pigs. They did look tastey though. (Oh for the days in which I used to be an animal lover, what have the last three months turned me into!) We finished with a local game that again is difficult to describe. A metal table with holes on it is placed at one end of the courtyard. In the middle of the table is a brass frog with a hole in his mouth. You have ten coins and depending on in which hole your coins land, you score points accordingly. I was useless! To put it into perspective, one guy in our group scored 9,000 (which to be fair was a very high score). I never managed more than 2,000.

We drove further, and stopped at the ruin of Ollantaytambo. We would be spending the night at a hotel in the same town before heading off on the Inca trail. The ruins are characterised by large Inca terraces that scale the mountain like some impossible stairway. The ruins once played host to the spot where the Inca emperor was able to defeat the Spanish in a battle. The finely cut rocks that form terraces were too great an obstacle for the Conquistadores to pass, and it remained as one of the last inca strongholds until the empire finally fell. Beyond the terraces are more stunning views into two seperate valleys.

From the top of the ruins we climbed down into the town, stopping briefly at the market in the main plaza before walking to our hotel. An early night in preparation for an early start, meant that we spent the few hours before dinner finalising our bags for the 4 day hike and buying some last minute snacks and supplies. Fuelled with excitement, sleep that night was very much like oil. Desperately wanted, but increasingly scarce. (....and yes that was an intended pun)!

Bring on the Camino Inka!!!!!