Machu Picchu

Last night Marco looked at my mosquito bites and told me he thinks I may be allergic to the protein the mosquitoes inject and that they may be infected cos they didn't look good to him. So I went to the clinic and they popped them all...yes there were more huge blisters..., cleaned them all, dressed the worst ones, gave me some cream and pills to take for 4 days and an injection in my bum cheek. The itching instantly went and I had a good night sleep for the 1st time in days.

Up at 4 - no more vest tops for me. Long sleeves all the way! Start queuing for bus at 430 for 530 bus. The queue is already 100 people long! I'm glad I bought my bus ticket last night cos the ticket office doesn't open till 530! So I sat down on the kerb and read my book for an hour. The others have walked to the entrance which is half an hour flat and an hour up. I have chosen to take the bus to the entrance as basically Marco told me lol! I think he thought I'd hold everyone up. I think he was right! And I'm so glad, after trekking all day with my back pack yesterday (and the traumatising train event :))

We all met at the entrance. Some of us more exhausted than others. Then proceeded to listen to Marco give us a tour and tell us all about the history of the place. Again, look it up if you're interested. But here's a tiny bit of fact stuff for you....Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Inca site located 2,430m above sea level. Situated on a mountain ridge above the Sacred Valley 50 miles NW of Cusco. The tour was actually pretty interesting to be honest. I ususally hate history but found myself actually listening intently for a change! (bit of honesty for you here...I was never really that interested in Machu Picchu but for months before when I was organising this trip, people constantly asked if I was going. I kinda felt like i should simply so I can say yes I've been! Is that really bad?)

At 830, after the tour, we all said our goodbyes and went our separate ways. The lovebirds were climbing Huayna Picchu mountain 2693m. The Germans were looking around some more before climbing Machu Picchu mountain 3050m (both mountains overlook the Inca site), and I was heading straight up Machu Picchu mountain. Less scenic than the other but higher and, well that's just me.

4 hours it said at the bottom. Ok I took 6 hours to climb Ben Nevis, and 4 hours to climb each of Scafell Pike and Snowdon. I can do this. Lets go. About an hour in, I looked and could see the flag at the top. Surely only another hour tops I thought. Apparently after asking it's 4 hours BOTH ways! A pimple compared to the mountains I've climbed! Oh well, still exhausting none the less. And that last half was incredibly horribly steep!! I met a small group who were having a much needed rest. One was offering the rest something out a paper bag. As I approached she offered me too. It was cocoa leaves. You're meant to chew on them. Not swallow, to give you energy. I've been drinking cocoa tea regularly while here as it's meant to be good for the altitude. Plus I like it. So I took a few and said my thanks. I proceeded to zoom up the next bit. Well it IS cocaine in it's purest form right?

Anyway I made it and got a great few pics. And even got my passport stamped...surely that's not allowed? It's one of the 7 new wonders of the world from 2007. Only the pyramids are still there from all the originals. Shame.

The walk down to the entrance took 45 mins, followed by another 2 hours back to the hostel (I was going to take the bus again but the queue was 200 people long so decided to walk) to collect some of my stuff before catching my train back to Cusco. I am now exhausted. I fall into bed at 10pm.

Tomorrow is a day of rest and research as I am moving South