I Survived the Inca Trail and Loved Every Minute of it!!

Hola amigos!!

Wow! There is so much to tell. I have had the best experiences. Lets go back....

So Sunday of Carnival in Oruro....spent another day enjoying the parade. This day was more for fun for the dancers, and many of them were smashed by the end of the night. It was full on war with the people in the bleachers. Got a water balloon right in the face and got quite the shiner to prove it. Just going away now. Went for a good dinner that night and Trace wasnt feeling so well, so went back to the hostel. I couldn´t stay in though and joined the English girls and watched the parade until about 3am. My mission was to get some photos with the dancers and we had fun running up and down the street to catch up with them. But were harassed by too many drunken Bolivian men and finally went to the hostel around 3am. Monday we checked out and caught our bus back to La Paz. Ran into our friend Steve and went for dinner at Sol y Luna. Also ran into some other people we had met and had a good night with them.

Up very early the next morning and got the bus from La Paz to Cusco, Peru. Was a very loooong journey, and didn´t get into Cusco until about 3am. But luckily we had no trouble getting a room at a hostel and it was right to sleep for us. That brings us to Wednesday...

Up for breakfast at the hostel and out to explore Cusco, "the Gringo Capital of South America." Cusco is a very touristy city but its also pretty cool. Loads of resturants and bars, and lots of shopping. Everything a girl could want and more! Spent the day sorting ourselves out with our upcoming Machu Picchu tour, internet business, more shopping, etc. Late lunch, and back to the hostel. Met some people in the bar at the hostel and ended up going out late into the night.

So, were pretty much out of commission for the next day. Up late and wandering the city again. Spent the afternoon in a cool bar called Mama Africas, where we were the only ones in there and they played a movie for us on the big screen. Chilled on the couches, ate pizza and loved it! Just what we needed in the state we were in! Back to the hostel to organize our bags for the Inca Trail trek. And early to bed.

Woke up at 4:30am and it was pouring rain. Got picked up by the tour company around 5:30am and we drove out to the starting point, km 82. Had breakfast, met the rest of the people on the tour(16 trekkers, 21 porters, 2 guides and 1 chef), got our gear on(gloves, poncho, pack, walking stick, etc) and headed out. For the first part of the trek it was raining pretty good. Got fairly soaked, but was glad to have my pretty pink poncho from Carnival. The walk was so beautiful. The mountains were so green, lush and huge. The walk was pretty easy, mostly flat, with a few steep uphills. And the weather even started to cooperate with us, and turned into a beatiful day. Had plenty of stops to rest and a saw some ruins along the way. Had an amazing lunch and loads of time to chill out. The porters are amazing. They pack so much stuff, including the tents and camping gear, cooking supplies, food, tables, chairs. And then they race ahead of us and set everything up so it is ready when you get there. Every meal was at least three courses and it was fantastic. We were so well fed on the entire trip. They even set up wash bins with soap, warm water and towels. So pampered. After lunch we only had a couple more hours of trekking to the camp spot. Got in around 5pm, and all the tents were set up for us. We even recieved a round of applause when we reached the site. Played cards, had dinner and tons of laughs with all the people in our group. A pretty diverse group but we all got along really well, and laughed the entire 4 days. They were great. Early to bed, for an early rise.

Woken up at 5:10am with coffee in....tent!! How great is that! Spoiled for sure, but it was just what we needed to get us up and at em. Enjoyed a delicious breakfast while the porters packed up the tents and all the gear. Had a meet and greet with all the porters and everyone was introduced. Then by 7am we were back on the trail again. The second day was the hardest, going up, up, up. The first part was through a very foresty area with loads of streams and trees, and big rocky steps. When we reached the mid morning rest area, we had a table set up with coffee/tea, popcorn, cheese and crackers. We enjoyed our well earned feast, while other groups were standing around eating apples. They even heated up the water so we didn´t have to wash our hands in cold water from the stream! Fantastic. After the break it was up hill again to the next mountain pass(4200m). What a workout! It was very hard work but there was no rush and we all went at our own pace. Loads of cheering when you reached the top and a rest. Took lots of pics, but it was pretty cold up there, so it was back on the trail again and down, down, down to the next campsite. Made it down by 1:30pm, and was glad to be finished for the day. Was given juice and a chair as soon as I got there! It was a serious workout. Got washed up and changed for lunch. Started to rain after lunch, so enjoyed some chill time in the tent, reading and a short siesta. Then up for tea and snacks, playing cards and later dinner. Started to rain again and it was early to bed.

Day 3, up at 5:20am, with coffee served at the tent again! Uphill right away, then a stop at a set of ruins(quick info time), then up again. Up to the second pass(3700m), a rest and snack and then a long climb down to the next set of ruins. More info, and then on our way again. The next part of the trail was beautiful and we took our time and took loads of photos. Up for a while and then it wound around the mountain. It was so green and lush. Started raining just as we reached the lunch spot. After another fantastic lunch, it was time for the "Gringo Killer", 1000meters down, a killer on the knees and calves. In the begining it rained pretty good and the steps were high and steep. But it started to clear up and the trail evened out a bit, so it wasnt so bad. A gorgeos trail with amazing views, we went slowly and enjoyed every bit of it. Beautiful lush green trees, through the cloud forest. But towards the end it seemed to take forever and our legs were hurting, we just wanted to get there. At the campsite we were rewarded with a hot shower and a cold beer! Soo good. One, led to two, and so on. Played charades with some of the people in the group and had loads of laughs. Good fun. My team kicked ass! Then dinner, and a short "thank you" ceremony with all the porters and cooks. Finally got a half decent sleep, thanks to all the beer and a flat surface!

Our final day! Wow, it went by fast. Our earliest wake up.....4am! Yikes. Up for breakfast and we were on the trail and lined up at the control gate by 5am. The park opened at 5:30am, and it was a race to the Sun Gate. It started pouring rain and it was a torturous hour hike to the Gate. Soaking wet and tired, we got to the Sun Gate, to see nothing but fog!!!! No views of Machu Picchu. Feeling a little dissappointed, we began the hike down to the ruins. Thankfully the sky started to clear and Machu Picchi was slowly revealed in all its glory. It was magnificent. Took some group photos at the top, trying to catch it when the fog was clear. Then down to get a closer look. Into the ruins the day turned sunny and beautiful. Machu Picchu really is magical. So beautiful with the sun shining on it, all green and lush, with the old stone buildings, and the huge green mountains rising behind it. What an amazing sight. One I won´t forget for a long time. It was impossible to take a bad photo! It really felt like the grueling four days of hiking was worth it, that we really worked to get there. It was magnificent. After a couple hours of touring and info, we got a couple hours alone to wander the ruins. I found a spot over looking it all, shed my wet shoes and just soaked it all up. Watching all the clean day tourists go by, I felt very proud of myself. All stinky and dirty, but that I had earned my right to be there. I have bragging rights! It was definatly a challenge and I did it! Yaa for me. What a fantastic four days. Worth every bit of pain. I loved it.

Spent last night in Machu Picchu Town, resting up, and chillin with some girls from the tour. Today we take the train back to Cusco and are meeting up with some people from the tour tonight. Time has flown by, and have decided to get a flight from Cusco to Lima, so we have time to chill out and enjoy our time in Cusco. Then to Lima and home. Wow. Its almost over. I can´t believe it. Its been awesome.

So thats all for now. Will get pics up asap. See you all soon!!!