Day 10 - Peru - Machu Picchu, Train, Drive to Cusco

I had a rough night and didn't sleep well due to many visits to the bathroom. When the alarm rang at 4:35 am, the last thing I wanted to do was get up. But it was Machu Picchu day again, this time with a guide.

There are so many people heading there in the early morning, we had to line up about 3/4 of the way up the hill. It took about 45 minutes before we could board.

We had some free time there until our tour started, so I found a place to sit and rest. We were told that Machu Picchu is always cool and foggy in the morning until about 9 or 10 am. Nope! Not today. It was clear, sunny and very, very warm. The hoodie and Gortex jacket I brought stayed in the backpack - again.

At 8:30 am I went to the arranged meeting place and began the tour. He was most knowledgeable, interesting, and enthusiastic. He took us to various spots and explained what we were seeing.

He talked about the advanced knowledge of the Incas, for example, they knew the world was round long before Europeans figured that one out. Their 'Temple of the Sun' has 2 windows which let the light in so that it falls to the back wall on June 21st and December 21st. With their Southern Cross rock, it pointed to the north, south, east and west exactly.

Anthropologists figured their community was about 1,000 people and their agricultural practices of the Inca supplied much of what they needed. They also traded with other Incan tribes.

Punishment for crimes was swift and deadly so as to keep order in the community. And handicapped infants didn't stand a chance. It was survival of the fittest. It sounds pretty cruel by today's standards.

After the tour, I didn't stay, due to the heat and the fact that I wasn't feeling very well. In Aguas Calientes, I found a bank machine to replace my dwindling supply of soles, then killed time until our 12:30 lunch get together. I ordered a small, thin-crust pizza.

Our train back to the Ollantaybo station left at 2:50 pm. I was hoping to get some shut eye, but passed the time instead, with some very agreeable seat-mates. We had to pick up our regular luggage at our previous hotel, then we took a nice big bus to Cusco.

We are back at our same hotel, but this time our room is in the new section and is much nicer than before. Supper was soup and it was so slow I wanted to cancel. Oh well, it was good - quinoa and onion.

I hope I feel better in the morning. I have 30 - 40 bug bites on my legs and I fear I am having an allergic reaction to them. My ankles are huge and they hurt. The joys of travel!