Machu Pichu!

Me with our guide Orlando on Salkantay pass, 4600 meters (15,100 ft)

On the train tracks to Aguas Calientes, base of Machu Pichu.

Top of Putocusi! Another peak with a view of Machu Pichu. Not an easy climb, but sooo worth it!! It was an awesome group.

Started off so rainy and cold... gave it a completely different feeling.

Best trekking group ever! ha, 3 Irish, 1 Aussie, surrounded by two Americans

Had to make a pitch black hike at 3;30 in the morning and wait in the rain for this view. Like we weren´t going to do it...

One of the Rapids in the Apurimac River. A beautiful unique canyon.

These past couple of weeks have shown me things that I only imagined I would ever see.  I landed in Cusco last Saturday the 15th and the flight from sea level to over 10,o00 feet in under an hour was unbelievable.  Cusco is the central point for all kinds of tourist adventures and it has been my ´base´for my time here. Really beautiful city, quite a difference from Lima for me, esp checking into a hostel with nothing but gringos. A bit of a culture shock from an hour domestic flight. Only in Peru.

First on the list (after esploring the city) was Machu Pich, the reason Cusco is on the map.  I signed up for a 5 day trek called Salkantay.  (The true Inca Trail needs over 5 mos of reservation, I dont even know what im doing tomorrow).  But this trek offers higher passes, different views and an extra day of hiking.  It was an awesome choice.  I wont go into all the detail but the first two days were spent climbing up and up to Salkantay Pass at about 4600 m or 15,100 ft.  People were definetely getting altitude sickness but the group was amazing. From places such as Ireland, Australia, Cayman Islands and the US. Once we reached the pass with snow covered Andes surrounding us we spent the next 2 days decending. The amount of micro climates we went through was unbelievable.  In the morning I was throwing snowballs, at lunchtime the climate and vegetation was very similar to the high desert of Arizona. And the afternoon/evening we were in full on jungle putting insect repellant on. So cool.

And Machu Pichu…  I can not put into words.  So much hype surrounds it but it still does not do it justice. It was unbelievable. The afternoon before the actual hike to the ruins we hiked Putocusi not know what to expect, and were treated to our first view of the ancient city. We were like little kids on top of that point yelling and running around.  Perfect way to start.  The next morning, in order to be in the first 400 hikers that receive tickets to hike Waynupichu (the view in the 6th photo) we had to hike at 330 in the morning. It was raining a little but not thinking anything of it took a light jacket and shorts. The wait to get into the park, receive our tickets and the wait for our guide was FREEZING! We were all worried the clouds would not clear. But they did and Machu Pichu turned from a erie, misty, kind of scary (still amazing) city into what you see in all the magazines.  The place was so much fun to explore and the hike up to the point was spectacular.  Our guide took us around and told us a lot about the history, and how the entire city is linked to the solar system and the two soltices. It was impressive.

I could go on and on about that trek and Machu Pichu but I also did a 3 day river trip down the Apurimac Rio.  This was of course after spening a couple nights out on the town with mainly the Irish I met on the trip. (Next trip might have to be to Ireland ).  The river and the canyon was very impressive and the rapids a thrill like always. Also with another awesome guide named Camillo.

Just a quick plug for the companies if anyone is interested, the river trip was Mayuc and the trek was SAS Travel. Both were great.

Ok, thats it for now. I have less than a week left. Its bitter sweet for sure. But I am cramming to see more on this trip. Two overnight busses in a row, here I come! Love and miss you all!!