Happy birthday to my beautiful granddaughter Ellexia. I hope you had a beautiful day. Sorry I had to miss your special day.
Machu Picchu day! After little sleep last night we met up with the rest of our group downstairs in the breakfast area of our hotel around 5:30. The guide came in around 6:00 and we headed for the bus station. Lots of hair pin turns and steep drop offs as we climbed up the mountain in a bus.
Machu Picchu has changed a lot from three years ago. I liked the old entrance better. I stayed with the group for the first thirty minutes or so but when they took off to climb lots of steps I stayed behind.
I found a big rock to sit on and I enjoyed the beauty of the grounds. We didn’t have a very nice day weather wise today as it was lightly raining most of the morning. We were above the clouds at times and in the clouds other times.
I didn’t have as powerful experience as I did last time. I enjoyed the site today and saw a different part than I had three years ago. There was a baby llama and several adult llamas roaming around the grounds too. It wasn’t very crowded as this is low season.
Our guide told us in 2018 visitors will only be allowed to stay on the grounds for two hours and must have a guide with them at all times. They have had too many tourist misbehaving and during high season it is getting too crowded. He told us the wait for the bus up or down is over four to five hours during high season
I headed back down to the lower village by myself via bus while the rest of the group finished the two hour tour. When I got down to the village I sat out in the square and enjoyed people watching. After about an hour Nicole came and joined me.
We found a cute cafe and had an early lunch. I had chicken and noodle soup that was called chicken diet on the menu. Nicole had nachos. Both were really good.
The waiters helped us get connected to wi-fi. They were cute kids and really provided good service for us.
After we ate we went shopping. I found some table runners I liked as well as a beautiful sweater for myself. I also picked up a few gifts for others. Good thing we had an extra bag as I did my best to fill it up.
We met the others at 1:00 and then headed to the train station. About half way through our trip one of the crew came down the isle wearing a costume and mask. He was wearing the traditional garb they wear to a festival of some sort. He pulled women out of their seats with a cane he was carrying so they could dance in the isle with him.
When he was done the crew put on a fashion show and then tried to sell the garments they modeled to us. It helped make the trip go faster. We were all pretty exhausted and tired on the ride back.
My seat mates were a father and daughter. His father was from Peru and his mother was from Mexico. They live in CA. At some point I ask if he was a cop. He confessed he used to be. I was surprised when he told me he was 42. That is how old Jason is. Man! I am getting old if I am old enough to be that guy’s mother!
Then I realized I could have been the mother of all the other participants from the retreat.
When we got to the end of our train ride I picked up the luggage I had checked at the station. We then said good bye to our host and one of the participants. A taxi was waiting for us to take us and one other participant to Cusco. The driver was told to go quickly as the other participant with us needed to get to the airport. The driver followed his instructions and went fast. Not sure how we avoided getting into a wreck but we made it.
We said our last good byes at the airport and then the driver brought us to our hotel. I love the location as we are close to restaurants and shops. The room is very small though.
After we checked in and got a bit settled
we went out for dinner. Found an Irish Pub to eat at. I had chicken quesadillas that were really good.
Tomorrow is a rest day. I have a few more gifts I want to get. Thankfully the shops are close so we can walk to them. Trusting both of us will get a really good night’s sleep tonight. Wednesday afternoon we fly to Lima and then have an overnight flight to Houston. Neither one of us can sleep much on an airplane.
I am exhausted. Glad we have a rest day before our long travel day home. I am ready to go home though.
What an adventure! Close to the finish line now.