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3rd May 2010 |
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I get up and head
for breakfast again; I have the same as yesterday, bread, ham and cheese
that I make a sandwich out of. I check out of the hotel and am picked up
at 7.15 for a short trip to the train station, there I board the first
class Andean Explorer train.
Imagine what the Orient Express used to be like back in the 1920’s, that
is what this was like. I have my own armchair for the duration of the trip
from Puno to Cusco a total of 228 miles.
At the back of the train is an observation carriage where I spend most of
my time. Although it is a ten hour trip it goes very quickly and I do not
get bored at all.
The train passes through many towns and villages along the way, the first
of which is Juliaca where we go though the centre of the Market, no sooner
as the train passes the locals move their stands back over the tracks.
Midway through the morning we have pisco sours in the dining car and when
we are drinking that a band performs for us.
Lunch is served at 12.00 and is three courses, I have a soup, pork for a
main and a fruit mouse for dessert all of which went down with a nice
glass of wine.
There is only 12 passengers on the train including me so there is lots of
space to be by yourself and relax or is you fancy a chat all you need to
do is start talking to someone.
La Raya is the half was point and also the highest point of the track with
an elevation of 4313 metres; we stop there for ten minutes. There is a
small Market and a little church. The other Andean Explorer train from
Cusco also arrives at this time and both our trains change tracks.
From this point on it is all downhill, in the afternoon there is a fashion
show on board with two ladies modelling scarves etc. There is also a
demonstration by the bartender on how to make a pisco sour with help from
one of the passengers.
We follow the Urbamba river for a while on in some places you can see the
damage that the flooding caused earlier in the year. About an hour and a
half outside of Cusco we have afternoon tea with some little sandwiches
and cakes.
When we arrive in Cusco I say goodbye to the other passengers and staff
and take my ride to the hotel.
I am staying at the Sol Plaza Inn which is in a great location just off
the Plaza de Armas, I check in and everything looks nice, it is set around
an outside courtyard. But then I go to my room, the first thing I notice
is the door has two large panes of frosted glass and you can virtually see
into the room, ok I think at least I would close the curtains which I
assumed would be on the other side, wrong, when I open the door there are
no curtains. The rest of the room is no better; it is tiny with two very
small single beds and a grubby little bathroom with only a cold water tap
on the sink.
There is no room to put anything so use a chair to keep my case on and the
other bed to lay my clothes for the next day.
I go out to a restaurant called Tunupka on the square, the food was ok but
nothing special, it was also more expensive that Puno. About halfway
through my meal a band comes out and plays some songs.
After I finish my meal I was around the Plaza de Armes and then go back to
the hotel.
As I lay in my room I could plainly see everyone going past my door, and
if I could see them that means they could see me, this hotel is definitely
not suitable for a frisky couple. I could also hear people talking in the
rooms next to me. |
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Andean Explorer Train Ride |
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Hotel Sol Plaza Inn, Cusco |
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Plaza de Armas, Cusco |
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Tunupa Restaurant, Cusco |
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