Peru, Bolivia, Brazil Wed 10 Sept 08
Yesterday evening 5 of us had excellent farewell to Veronica meal in a restaurant on one side of the central square of Ollataytambo. I had alpaca steak, perfectly cooked. A group of musicians started to play, we were the only diners that evening, they turned out to be students earning some money to pay for their further education. The main guy was very good, I bought their CD to play to anyone who is travelling in my car instead of Laura Nyro.
Early (again) next morning said a sad farewell to Veronica and boarded train then bus to Machupicchu. The 4 of us walked the last section to the ruins of the settlement that the spanish invaders never found. It was eventually abandoned by the incas whose numbers had fallen from 20 million to about 6 million due mainly to disease, small pox etc. It was rediscovered in 1911. Since then, the overgrowth has been removed to reveal the walls of buildings, paths and terraces collectively forming a remarkable township perched high up in a remote part of the mountains.
We had a look at one side of the site, watched a bunch of indians practicing inca dancing for a "movie", then walked the trail up to the sun gate which is the end of the traditional tourist inca trail where the rest of our original group were due to arrive at 2pm. In fact they straggled in over a two hour period, we saw half of them arrive then returned to our hotel in the modern town below.
Visited the hot springs but had a few beers overlooking the pools rather than get wet. Bought a T shirt with a picture of a llama spitting at its handler (or a tourist?). Another evening meal, this time with the whole group, listening to their experiences. Some of them had been very poorly indeed with the altitude sickness.
Formal tour of Machupicchu tomorrow.
Now 10.40pm, ready for bed. All the Best,
John
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