Well I survived the Inca trail!!!!! Had the most incredible few days and it was definitely the highlight of my 8 months travelling. Left Cuzco at 6am on Thursday morning for Ollantaytambo, which is a really cute little town with great views of the mountains. We met our assistant guides, Rosie and Roddy (who were pretty disappointing, although Roddy did cool matchstick tricks!) for the trek and another GAP group who we would be joining for the Inca trail. The new group were not great which was a real shame and there was an awful Canadian family who were so rude. Gave all of our bags to the porters and it was crazy the amount they carry along the trail - up to 20kgs!!!! Got our passports stamped at the start and then set off over the bridge and began the adventure!!!!! The scenery was so pretty and there were donkeys everywhere. The first part of the trail was pretty easy going and we had a yuimmy lunch break after a few hours overlooking some inca ruins then had another 2 hours before we reached our campsite. It was so sweet as everytime we arrived at our campsite each day the porters would clap and you really felt like it was worth all of the hard work. The campsite was beautiful and was overlooking the mountains. The porters and locals had a football match and it was crazy how much energy they had considering how much luggage they carried on the trail! Had a delicious 3 course dinner, watched the stars and then a had really early night.

We were given a lie-in until 7am the following day as our guide Percy wanted to avoid the other groups. Got served coca tea in bed and then after breakfast of porridge and omelete we were introduced to all of the porters and cooks who all told us their background and were so friendly. Set off for what was described as the toughest day on the trail and it didn't disappoint! I got myself up all of the steep hills with the help of Michael Jackson on my ipod and a lot of Snickers!!! It was pretty tough and exhausting climbing up to Dead Womans Pass but we had a laugh and I was so grateful that I had my sticks to help me out! The view from the top was amazing and then it was downhill all the way to camp! We were on the lookout for Paddington bear who was meant to have been sighted along the trail but didn't see him as he probably doesn't like Michael Jackson! Had another delicious dinner at the next campsite and then a ridiculously early night at 8.30 as we were all exhausted.

After a very cold night we woke up at 5am! for the longest day of the hike. We were told by Percy that it would be long but pretty easy day but it was definitely the worst day for me mentally as I was exhausted from the day before. We left the campsite at 5.30 and were told that we would get breakfast in a few hours. Well 5 hours later we were shattered and starving and eventually got our food! I was in a bit of a grump by that point as I was so tired and seriously over walking! Laerke (the Danish girl) and I got seperated from the rest of the group (on purpose!) and my mood improved as we went exploring off the beaten track and it was briliant. We went crawling through the jungle and got covered in mud but it was so much fun and we felt like true incas! The rest of the grop had left us and so we completed the last few hours by ourselves which was so much better than being stuck with the others. The trail went on and on and the crazy porters would just run past us with huge bags on their backs which always made us stop moaning! They were always so cheerful and some of them were carrying ghetto blasters with them! Exhausted we arrived at the campsite at 3.30 despite being told we would get there at 1.30! There was a bar at the site and so we ordered a rum and coke which made it all better. There were also showers but the 4 of us agreed that a true inca would not wash until after reaching Machu Pichu!! That evening the cooks baked us a cake and we had a thankyou ceremony which was so lovely as they got to ask us all questions about our jobs back home - they loved mine!

The following morning we woke up at 4am and after breakfast we set off for the sungate. The hike there was pretty fast paced and we were racing to get there before sunrise. Thankfully it was pretty level but there was a point where there was a practially vertical climb up some stone steps in which we had to scramble up like spiderman! But we eventually reached the sun gate and it was breathtaking. It really was incredible to see Machu Pichu and made the last few days of exhaustion worthwhile. Felt so proud of myself and the views of the ruins and the surrounding mountains were definitely the best thing I have seen on my travels. After watching the sun come up we went to look around Machu Pichu. Met up with Mark, the South African, who had done the Lares Trek instead of the Inca trail. It was so surreal actually being there and we learnt so much about the history of the Incas it was fascinating. At lunctime we got a bus to Agua Calliente and all ate hamburgers and chips!! Got a train back to Ollantaytambo and had been looking forward to it as we were told strange things about there being clowns and a fashion show in the carriages but it was obviously their day off as there were no performances!! Arrived back in Cuzco at 5 and then went to a cool place for dinner before yet another well deserved early night! Had a great lie in this morning and then left Cuzco at lunchtime and got a flight to Ariquipa. Arrived at 3ish and then had a look around the city, which is the second largest in Peru. It is a really pretty place and the main square is very similar to Cuzco. We are off to Colca Canyon tomorrow for a night and then will be coming back here to explore properly. Only 9 days to go!!!!!! x