20/3 Up to Maccu Pichu

5.30 to catch a taxi (didnt come) to the bus station. Hotel owner waved down another taxi for us and we joined the queue for the Peru Rail bus connection. The trip took almost 2 hours then we transferred to the train for the final 90 minutes downhill to Aguas Calientes (hot water) just below the site at Macchu Piccu itself.

The scenery gradually reflected the warmed weather and lower altitude - gradual transition towards jungle, which is what there is beyond MP. Some very good views of tall snowy mountain peaks but they gradually got clouded in. The train followed the edge of a smallish river that tumulted its way downwards. In our new capacity as white water rafters we had a keen eye for the patterns of the water and the whirlpools and eddies. Hard to imagine we were in anything like that but the pictures dont lie.

the beginning of the Inca trail

picture roof in train

The hotel had sent a boy to meet us and we had a brisk uphill (very) walk. Interestingly, it was MUCH easier - we are down at 2000m. This allows us to use the laptop, so J has been viewing and editing the last 2 weeks of photos with a view to putting them in here. Watch this space.

isn't this lovely.  view from 1window is of mountains

 .... the view behind the bed is of ..............

bricks!!!!!!!!!!

We had another 3 course meal for $5, then trotted round researching and booking some transport for tomorrow and the next day back to Cusco. A lot of money disappeared very quickly over the last 24 hours. But it isnt often you get the chance to see a major world attraction like this.

We felt like pizza for dinner and just dropped in at one of the more prominent restaurants and told them what we would pay. They added $3 ¨tax¨on afterwards but we still did well. We kept an eye open all day for Yvonne and Peter, and duly ran into them on the way home. Only just caught them as they turned a corner. They are meeting the rest of the mob at 7.30 tomorrow and have a guide lined up. We are planning to be up there early and will probably see most of the rest of them.

It rained steadily all day from about lunch today. They say the sunrise can be spectacular - is it worth getting up at 4.30 in the hope it will be clear? American lady told us yesterday she went up at dawn and it was clouded in but it was very beautiful as soon as the mist cleared.

We heard that Geoff buried Megan today and Halley cried for her Mum. Awful. No idea what happend to make her leave the road but it is so easy and so quick.