Machu Picchu, Yea!

After months, maybe years of wanting to come to the Incan ruin of Machu Picchu, I finally came and saw the sight this morning. Lauren, Becky, and I woke up at 4:15 a.m. to catch the first bus up to the ruin at 5:30. It started off raining and little bit and cold, but once the sun was up it warmed up a bit. We got there as early as possible so that we could climb the mountain in the background called Waynapicchu, but were told we couldnt because the day limit of 400 people had already gone up. Yet we checked back later at 8 oclock and got lucky, as we took the last three spots up.

It was an extremely hard hike but well worth it as we saw the entire town from atop the hill, as well as a great 360 view of the surrounding mountains. The mountains here are a lot different from those in Ecuador, much more defined and rigid. I have taken some great photos and videos, and will be able to post them all once I get back to Cuenca, whenever that may be.

There is literally a book about this experience that I could write, but these Internet cafes are damn expensive, and I dont have the time to sit here and write about all of it right now anyway. We are tired and have a few hours to kill in this expensive, tourist trap town known as Machu Picchu Pueblo (previously known as Aguascalientes). Tonight we are taking the train back to Ollantatambo and then a bus back to Cuzco. Tomorrow we will leave early in the morning for Lake Titicaca, stopping first in Puno and celebrating Beckys 23rd birthday. The following day we will be going to one of the islands and spending the night with an indigenous family, arranged through a tour we set up for $90, including the bus tickets, meals, pick up, and tour excursions for two days.

Once we head back to Cuzco and Lima, we will have another day to spend in the capital city, and then back into Guayaquil on the 25th. From then on we will be back in Ecuador, but traveling around to other parts. Ill try to keep you posted.