It was an early day ... but not too early .... turns out that going to Peru in the 'rainy' season is brilliant because everyone is scared away! So, we had a breakfast pretty much to ourselves until it was time to head out to the bus. Our organizer was able to snag the early entry to climb the mountain this morning when it looked like it had sold out ... so that was exciting! We were on the 7am bus ....
Hardest part of this trip was figuring out how to layer ... being the rainy season, it is normally pretty warm BUT there are moments of downpour, and you never know when which one is coming!
I am so glad I took a 'ride up the mountain' picture because you will enjoy the 'ride down the mountain' picture even more at the end of the day ... the ride up was scary ... lots of switchbacks, lots of drop-off into an unknown cliff, etc ... but the ride down? Add a seat at the back of the bus and the ability to see every single hairpin turn on the rainy, muddy roads .... scariest of my life ... but I digress ... first - Machu Picchu!!
Fresh and Happy! At the beginning of our day! Ponchos on!!
Checkbox #2, see the llamas who live there (or are they alpacas...it was a big mystery to us)
We picked up a lovely Brazilian student who was hiking both mountains today - so she was solo on this mountain ... we were happy to add her to our party!
Made it to the top!!!! Lots of scrambling, on all 4's, stepping lightly ... straight up in many parts!
And can you see the VIEW we were rewarded with? (insert sarcasm) ... but I didn't care too much ... sure, but of a bummer that we were fogged in, but we were warned about that ... I cared mostly that we just made it to the highest peak!!!
Best ever travel buddy ....
And now ... the descent!! Please note the teeny, tiny stairs for teeny, tiny Inca feet .... and wow, straight down .. don't trip or get vertigo!
Still enjoying the view, the foggy view ..
And my goodness.... be fearful of this trek if you have a few extra pounds on you! I am ginormous in Peruvian standards, but thankfully more tall than wide ... this was a descent into a very tight cave where you had to lean against the wall and shimmy through to get out the other side!! No warnings here, and because it is a loop going down, you have no warning of this obstacle on the way up!
These picture do no justice to the depth and height of how far you would fall if you tripped ... this was a beautiful walkway that was so "Avatar-like" ... so gorgeous ... no justice done by the pictures.
Three strong, sweaty women .... task complete!!!
Now for the walk back through the ruins in order to check BACK in .... it is a strange system ... but you kind of get to see the ruins 3 times ... once on the way to the mountain, twice on the down from the mountain and back to the entrance ... and then your final visit.
These hallways!!
Ok, NOW I can enjoy the view!
The stamping of the passport!!
And now back to the throngs of tourists who are eager to get into the ruins, and just take their selfies ....
My hearts came along with me ....
As did my plastic wrap poncho ....
Classic pensive look out the Inca window ....
See that mountain behind us?? WE CLIMBED TO THE TOP!!!
Hello Inca Bridge ... I had been dreaming about you for a year since I stumbled upon reading about it a year ago, one night at 2am when I do most of my travel research!!
It was spectacular and terrifying!! The drop was so far, and the mountains to the far right were high enough to almost induce vertigo!!
Again ... pics don't do it justice!!
Ran into the ladies from the night before who told us they were turned back from doing the big mountain hike ... unsure how they all weren't captured in the selfie but their husbands were??
Here she goes .... poncho flying in the wind ...
Highlight of the day this Inca Bridge ...
Also a highlight of the day was doing the day with this gal ....
WAS HERE!
Marilyn Poncho Monroe
Just hanging around at some ruins ...
Great day ...
That turned into a terrifying day ... bus ride home that I kept my eyes closed for the majority of it ... as the bus slides into the hairpin turns all the way down the mountain.... SO scary.
Thank you google - here is some perspective for you - now picture these roads wet and muddy. Now picture your eyes cinched closed and breath held for the entire ride ....
Once back at our B&B, thankful that we survived the day, we negotiated a 4 hour room rate (like a couple of 'working' women lol)... and enjoyed a hot shower and a nap ... but we were both still SO chilled from our day that we were pretty excited about our hats!! Thank you Chris!!
It was time for the train to Ollyantambo!! Here was the view from the waiting room.
Pretty different experience on the way down ... they 'include' a fashion show led by this weirdo masked woman who pulls all the men up to dance. We were pretty happy to be women at this point.
The little town we were to explore over the next 36 hours have mainly cobblestone streets and very narrow alleys, so not a ton of cars ... so this tuk tuk was our ride to the main square where our host met us, and again walked us back to the B&B since the alley is too narrow for any cars!
Shannon gave me the big bed under the window tonight!!
The window opened to this adorable alleyway with the sound of rushing river ... very calming!
