Machu Picchu - 24th Sept

Up at 5.30 to meet my personal guide for the day, and to catch the train to Aguas Caliente the nearest town to Machu Picchu

The train ride takes a slow 4 hours (due to old tracks) down the mountains from Cusco

Aguas Caliente is the most unusual place I have seen yet, the main street has many hostels and restaurants and is also the train station, so, you can sit eating your lunch and watch the locals unloading the train of all the goods they need, and on the other side of the street is a great river.

I check into my hostel and we have some lunch before the coach trip to the Ruins

Well, we finally get there ... and it was worth it

What a place to live, perched on the top of a mountain surrounded by 4 mountains,
the view was spectacular !

my guide (can´t remember his name) showed me around and told me all about the history then left to get the train back to Cuzco.
I stayed for a bit to let the experience sink in, and 2 lamas, a mum and baby, came right up to me to graze (i was sitting near a green patch) it was quite special
then I went back to my hostel, in Augas Caliente, had a shower then went out for dinner.

I found a restaurant overlooking the river, had spaghetti and and couple of glasses of very good wine,
got chatting to a fella on the next table, he was just finishing an 8 month trip around the world, and his last stop would be Cuba, I gave him some tips on what to do in Cuba, and he told me about his trip and gave me some good advice on where he had been,
it was a great day.

The next day I had a look around the markets bought a Pachu mama necklace, bag and pretty earrings,
then had some lunch before I caught the train back to Cusco
A great trip

Love to all
Kate