Memories with Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu, Peru
  
I am double posting right now so scroll down to see my post I just published!

So my trip to Machu Picchu is quite the story.
  I got onto my shuttle at about 8 o'clock in the morning and everyone on the bus was from Chile (everyone I have met has basically been from Chile since they are on vacation). I went the hydroelectric route which is an alternative to taking the traditional train. I do not recommend going the hydroelectric route. The experience can best be explained by imagining driving on Mulholland for about 5 hours on a very narrow road that you feel as if you may drive off at any second. It was pretty windy and scary, but on the bright side, the parts of Peru we drove by were also very beautiful. When we finally got to the hydroelectric station there at about 3pm you have two options: you can either pay an extra $20 u.s.d. that isn't included in your tour to take the hour train ride or you can walk for about three hours to Aguas Calientes.

    A few women from Chile and I all decided to walk which didn't seem like a difficult feat at the time. But my bag (I only brought a smaller backpack not my backpacking backpack), was killing my back and shoulders by about an hour in.. which I still don't really understand because I barely packed anything! Though I was physically exhausted by the time we got to Aguas Calientes, it was a breath taking walk and I do think it was almost equal to Machu Picchu in beauty and memorability. I do recommend this walk I just don't recommend having any kind of weighted bag! I didn't get a chance to take any pictures, but Aguas Calientes is has breathtaking surroundings. By the time we got there though I pretty much ate and then passed out because I was so exhausted.

me and the llama chillin'

me and the Chileno's

llama!

    The next morning I woke up at 4:40am and I got Machu Picchu at about 610am. I met with my tour guide and group and 630, which is normal for two day trips to Machu Picchu because the morning is supposed to be the nicest because it is the least crowded. Unfortunately, my tour guide only spoke in Spanish so I understood about half of what she said. At least I was better off than the Japanese tourist in my group who neither spoke Spanish nor English and people tried to communicate with him by hand motion haha. My favorite part of Machu Picchu was the llamas that are so close to you!

     I got back to Aguas Calientes by 11 and I was leaving to back to Cusco on the train to the hydroelectric station at about 12. When we got the the hydroelectric station the driver informed us that there had been a mudslide because of the rain and that he didn't know if we would be able to get by. About two hours later, they said that we could go and that we might have to walk for 15 minutes. After about a four hour drive we got to the mudslides and it was raining and the "walk" around was actually a two hour detour down to the river. Everyone in my car (about 20 people) except for two guys decided it was too dangerous and that we should go to the closest town and sleep and then go in the morning when it was clear. We got back in the car for about a thirty minute drive and stopped at a outdoor casual restaurant in the middle of nowhere at about 7 and I thought we were just making a stop for dinner. Two hours later, these Brazilians that were in my tour group inform me that we were staying there until 5 o'clock in the morning. It was freezing and I was so tired but I did befriend the Brazilians and then I tried to sleep in the van which was extremely uncomfortable and cold. I put my pajamas over my pants I was wearing and wrapped my face in my scarf and took of my wet sweater. I managed to sleep for a couple hours and then at 5 we hit the road. We got back to the same spot we were at the day before and the road was still blocked with no progress seeming to had been made. At this point, the driver wanted us to walk and he said he had to get to work (he was crazy) and him and the other people in my car were screaming at eachother in Spanish. He even almost left people in my group while they were going to the bathroom because he said he had to go.

mudslide blocking road

everyone crossing river

crawling on log over river

climbing back to the road

man down

      It was already about 8 am and it didn't look like we were getting anywhere so the Brazilians and I decided to go down and cross the river. It was probably one of the craziest things I've ever done. Thankfully one of the Brazilians carried my backpack for me. We climbed down the mountain, crossed rivers three times and then climbed up. We had to walk across the rivers up to our midthighs and my pants, shoes and socks were freezing from the ice cold water. At one point, three of the Brazilians and I were holding hands crossing the river. The memory is so funny. At another point, we had to crawl on this log over the river. But, about an hour and a half later we got to the other side of the road and paid someone 25 soles (about 10 dollars) to take us to Cusco. We had four more hours to go and I was completely soaked and then we had to walk to the hostel and I had no socks on only my shoes slipped on and I felt like a complete mess and I was supposed to have a bus to Chile an hour and half after I got to my hostel (but actually I somehow got a ticket for Friday instead of Tuesday which I guess worked out). So then I decided I needed to rest and I stayed in Cusco for an extra night.

 Okay I am not completely up to date but I have to go to sleep because I have to wakeup at 330 to visit the Geysers! I will try to tomorrow if I have time!