We returned to our base in Cuzco tired but happy. We headed out for a drink to celebrate but along the way as Toby and I sneaked out for a rewarding McDonalds (well come on I had walked solid for 4 days!) we stumbled across a street performance. For an hour we were entertained with dancers, acrobats, flame dancers and an Inca parade. It showed the chief Inca, his wife, the soldiers and so on. It was amazing and a great treat!

On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me; a museum and guinea pig.

After having seen the wonder of Machu Picchu, we thought we should learn more about the Incas and headed off to the Inca Museum. Here two university students took us on the quickest and best tour of a museum I have ever had. They barely lingered on a piece - just enough to explain. We did have some funny moments with them where their English did not quite work. Imagine you are looking at some pottery:

Lucy: "So when were these found?" (meaning what year etc)
Guide: "June"

Katy: "Where were these found?"
Guide: "The earth"

Definitely an honest answer! We got to see older pictures of Machu Picchu when it had just been found. This was worth the tour as the difference between then and now was amazing. It made us appreciate not only the work that had gone into clearing the jungle but also the ability of the stonework to have survived nature's savage attack.

By this time the impact of walking four days had hit. Muscles were aching and bones were tired. Katy and I decided to go for a massage as it was only 25 soles for an hour and ten minutes, (the equivalent of 5 pounds). It was the best 5 pounds I have ever spent. Even though Katy and I had to share a room, the massage was pure bliss. It was painful but by the end I had melted so much I could not move. Just what the doctor ordered.

The day ended celebrating our successful walk with traditional Peruvian celebration food- a guinea pig. We went to a restaurant which brought it out fully cooked, head, claws, feet and all. It was crazy. The meat was dark and heavy but lovely. It may have been the mint but to me it tasted like lamb. Not bad at all.

And so ended our Inca adventure.