9/1-Morning
In the morning, we made our way from Cusco to the train station at Ollantaytambo, making a few stops along the way, primarily a rural kindergarten. We were traveling with Gate1, and the company maintains a foundation which helps to sponsor schools in the less affluent parts of the world where they lead tours. We were advised ahead of time that our tour included a stop at a rural kindergarten, and we were encouraged to bring school supplies to share with the kids. The kids greeted us in English and sang a song to us in Spanish; we were then asked to sing a song to them, for which we joined in "You Are My Sunshine." It was a warm experience sharing time with the kids.
After a couple of scenic roadside stop, we also visited a traditional Inca household, a one-room home which the family shared with a herd of guinea pigs (which are a common source of food to the traditional Peruvian family). Finally, about noon, we made our way through a gauntlet of street merchants and boarded the train to Aguas Calientes. The train itself was an interesting experience, traveling along rivers, through the rain forest, with many scenic views. In spots, we were able to see the traditional hiking path into Machu Picchu, and we were glad to be in the train and not running up and down the severe mountain trails (the first day's hike is up and then down a 5,000 foot climb).