David picked me up at 545 and we set off with Raul, the driver, for the trailhead at Chinchero (3762m). We shouldered our packs and set off with goodbyes from two little Indian girls that appeared out of nowhere. The pace was pleasant, David turned out to be a really nice guy and I got to chew cocao leaves like a real Inca. But, the air got thinner as we climbed about 2000m so I was breathing hard and taking breaks. We finally reacher out maximum height and began...

Awake on time for a breakfast of granola (ish?) with juice/yogurt combo poured over it, fruit and melon and a yellow ball that was not something exotic when I bit into it. Just a ball of butter. Outside to meet Stephanie who was late because she was not able to walk very fast because she had come down with flu. She mentioned this after we shook hands in greeting. Hmmmm. Caught my bus with Jose the tour guide from the day before. Much of the tour group was the sa...