Machu Picchu.. Nothing like ending on a terrifying high!

Machu Picchu was all I imagined it to be, and more. It is breathtaking and awe inspiring. Seeing Machu Picchu and everything that surrounded my trip will make it a trip that I will never forget!

Due to huge costs involved with the getting to MP, I thought I would take a slightly cheaper route and instead of going on the 3 hour scenic train ride, that I would go on a minibus on an entirely different route, taking between 7 and 9 hours, but I thought that I would see amazing scenery... which I did. 15 people in the minibus and this time it wasn´t all Peruvians, but a mix. The main people that I ended up with were 4 American Mormons )3 young people and a mum) and a Sc0ttish couple.

It started off well, the weather was good and we started to wind our way through the mountains, all very beautiful to start with. Before long the clouds and heavy rain arrived. As per usual the driver was taking ridiculous risks and people in the van were shouting at him to slow down. The weather got worse and so did the mountain roads which quickly turned into dirt tracks. There were landslides, there were rocks and boulders falling and we were having to dodge them. We got stuck for an hour while mud was cleared from the roads. Two hours of the journey were spent on a single track dirt road clinging to the side of the mountain, I have never been so terrified in all my life... I just wanted to get out and walk and so did everyone else. The only sounds to be heard were sharp intakes of breath and gasps of horror as we kept sliding towards sheer drops. I really did not think we would not survive it! Eventually we reached a valley, where a train was supposed to take us for the final 16 km. Due to being held up with rock slides etc. we had missed the train so had to walk it! Luckily the rain had stopped and we were walking on the tain tracks through the jungle next to the river and again it was beautiful but it was getting dark and I had brought too much stuff with me, so it was heavy. At 7.30pm in the pitch dark we eventualy arrived in Agnes Calliente where we were staying the night. Everyone was checked into a hostel but of course there had been a mess up with my booking so I was eventually found a bed the other side of the town, seemingly by the noise, in the middle of the river!

We all had supper and the military operation for the next morning was explained. As it was going to be cloudy there was no point hiking up for sunrise and after a 16km hike none of us fancied it, so we all decided to get the bus. This meant getting up at 4am and getting in the queue as early as possible to get on the first buses that leave at 5.30am. )people do this every day!)

After very little sleep we were all in the queue early and got the 5.30am bus and by 6.30am were at Machu Picchu. As I said it is spectacular. We had a two hour guided talk and then was the decision whether to climb the little mountain overlooking Machu Picchu, which takes between 45 and 90 minutes each way. At this point the weather was cloudy but OK and the top of Wyne Macchu was in sight. We knew we would not have a lot of time, as we had to be back in Agnes Calliente by 1pm for the dreaded journey home. After a while the scottish guy and the young american, well Haiwain guy decided to do it and I decided to go with them. It was a very steep climb up very steep steps, with ropes in places, but sometimes you are just are your hands and knees scambling up. Half way up the cloud descended and then the rain began, lightly to start with and then torrential, but by this time we were determined to get to the top. We made it in 40 minutes, but of course could not see a thing, especially as Steve and I were wearing glasses. We stopped at the top for 15 mins in case it cleared but it didn´t, and we were freezing and drenched. The steps coming down were worse than going up, very thin and no ropes or holds, very, very slippery and if you were to stand up straight and lean slightly forward you would drop off into nothing. The steps were so slippery and streams of water pouring down, the only thing to do was sit down and slide forward, it was terrifying, so steep and so dangerous.
But, we made it down and although we hadn´t seen anything were proud we had done it!

Soaked to the skin we got down into the village just in time to change and luckily catch the train to the dreaded minibus. The 40 minute train journey was lovely and it had stopped raining. When we got to the end of the track our minibus was not there, 10km down stream a bridge had broken and nothing could get across, we would have to walk! After about 2 km an old car stopped and said if we paid him he would take us in relays to the river otherwise we would never get across the river, as the water was getting worse. Three of us were squeezed into the boot and suffered agony as he took off at full speed over rocks and potholes! Arriving at the bridge we could see how fast the water was flowing, and the minibus was on the other side. We had to go then or be stranded. So, shoes and socks off, trousers rolled up we slowly made our way through the torrent. It wasn´t that deep, just above our knees, but very strong with rapids the other side, if you had have been knocked over that would have been it! One of the girls did fall but two of us managed to grab her and we all got across.

The journey back was a repeat performance of terrifying horror, except with all the rain it was worse. Again landslides, rock falls etc. Once the very worst was over the young people, everyone except Nan )the american mum) and myself started singing.. fine for half an hour, an hour, but after two hours and feeling really exhausted I could not stand it any more and decided I also had rights and asked them to stop, which they did, but I don´t think I was then the most popular person on the bus! We were then stopped by the police to see if we were smuggling Coca, so all had to get out of the bus while they searched. We got back to Cusco at 11pm. I was shell shocked and exhausted but it certainly was an adventure to remember!

Today my legs ache so much I can hardly walk, so it is a day or relaxation and sorting myself before flying to Lima tomorrow and flying home on Tuesday! I need a rest!