After our long adventure at the ruins yesterday, we debated long and hard whether or not we'd climb Huayana Picchu -- the very large mountain adjacent to Machu Picchu where one can get spectacular aerial views of the ruins. However, the assent up Huayana Picchu would entail rising at 5 am (because they only allow 400 people in a day), purchasing another day pass to Machu Picchu, purchasing another round trip ticket on the bus (with the chance of taking the bus down with another group of smelly Inca Trail hikers), trekking across the ruins, and then ascending 600 feet directly up on steep steps and ladders at an altitude of 9,000 feet . . . needless to say, we took some really great photos yesterday.
Today, after 10 hours of sleep, we arose at 8 then sauntered into breakfast -- the only ones there -- and delighted in quinoa pancakes, fresh squeezed melon juice, and various pastries. To kill time until our train departed for our return to Cusco, we took an amazing Orchid walk through the grounds of our hotel . . . did you know that there are 325 varieties of orchids that are extant only in Machu Picchu? We didn't either and we took lovely photos of those that were blooming. After our Orchid walk, we actually worked (yes, Joe spent some time filling out information for his office while I checked grades on Powerschool) but that only lasted 30 minutes before we headed for a "De-Stress Massage" . . . all off that work required some spa time.
Our PeruRail train bound for Cusco departed at 5:30pm . . . initially, we wanted to purchase tickets on the "New Backpacker" car as it was more economical, but when we went to purchase our tickets online before we left we discovered that all of those tickets were SOLD OUT! We were forced to purchase the very expensive "Special Service" tickets, and though those tickets set us back quite a bit, it was a better choice in lieu of taking local buses (and after we saw the local buses, we were thankful for purchasing the expensive tickets). The "Special Service" was an amazing experience, right out of the old days of luxury train travel. We had our own tableclothed table, wing-back chairs, hot-towels upon entry, drinks, snacks, chocolates . . . it was very, very nice. We did still have a two hour drive back, in the dark, along very curvy mountain roads, some of which were unpaved, to return to Cusco as the rail line is still being repaired because of the damage from the rains and mudslides this passed February, but still, the only complaint I have is that I had to print out four copies of each of our tickets and they only took one . . . waste of paper!
Buenas Noches desde Cusco . . . necesitamos dormir.
Hasta Manana,
Christine
The 400 per day quota (or extra ticket) for Huyuana Picchu did not exist when I visited during low season in 2005.
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