Hey people!

Just thought I´d do a special blog after our adventure to Machu Picchu.

So, after spending a few days in and around Cuzco visiting various impressive inca ruins we got on in a ´collectivo´(or minivan) and travelled the short distance to Ollantaytambo. The journey was beautiful with snow capped mountains in the distance contrasting with the yellowy brown colours of the hills we were passing through (distinctly different from Ecuador too). In Ollantaytambo we walked around a very big and impressive inca ruin site and had a shoe string lunch of bread, crisps and mayo sitting on a park bench!

Then it was time to board our steam train to Aguas Calientes which was a very short 1.5 hours. The journey was probably THE most scenic train journey we´ve ever been on with snow capped mountains, a huge white water river and lush green forest to bestow upon! It certainly beat the train journey from South Croydon to London Bridge!

Anywho, we arrived into the maze of hostels, western restuarants and a huge market that is Aguas Calinetes and eventually found our hostel. The town is basically set up for tourists so it is really expensive but we managed to sniff out a local food joint and had fried trout with rice (plus soup!) for 7 soles which is about 1.70pound. Bargain.

After a dreadful nights sleep and the worst breakfast ever at 5am we started our walk to Machu Picchu. The walk was really easy and well marked- it was basically a very long staircase going up the side of a very steep mountain! We arrived at the entrance at around 6.30am. Yet more stairs to climb and then as we rounded a corner, there it was- Machu Picchu in front of us in all it´s sun bathed glory.

It was the perfect picture postcard scene of the inca ruins. As we were there early we could appreicate it without people marring the view : ). The day before we had bought a guide book for the site and so we took ourselves around the site. The stonework was amazing and the different sections of the site were very interesting. The views throughout the day though were just awesome. The landscape isn´t like anything that we´ve ever seen before. The mountains surrounding Machu Picchu are high and steep so that they all come to a point and are covered in lush green forest. I would imagine that there´s lots of animals and plants on those mountainsides that haven´t been discovered yet as they look just so unreachable and unpenetrable. Just beautiful.

We spent around 4 hours amongst the ruins taking it all in and enjoying the views. We bumped into a group of British peeps that were staying at our hostel and had a celebratory swig of rum with them before heading back down!

We boarded the train later in the day to take us back to Cuzco. This was the most random train journey ever- the food was quite random but delicious, then we had an impromtu traditional dance thrust upon us by one of the train crew who was dressed up in bright clothes and a mask and was kissing random passengers (Vicki´s worst nightmare!) then we had a fashion show of alpaca wool clothes. It was so bizarre- especailly to our sleep depraved minds! A very funnny end to a great day. It was a beautiful day visting the ruins and one which I´m sure we will both never forget. Just stunning!

Our next port of call is the Amazon rainforest where we shall stay for 10 days doing some voluntary work. Can´t wait!

Until next time, adios amigos!

Katie and Vic.xx