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5th May 2010 |
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Another early
morning again today, I get up at 4.30 and am picked up at 5.20 and taken
to the train station here I board a mini bus and am taken to Piscaicucho
where I will board the train to Machu Picchu. Normally you can get the
train directly from Cusco but the flooding earlier in the year wiped out
the tracks. So now everyone needs to take the two hour minibus drive to
get the train.
I have paid a little extra and take the Vista Dome train which promised to
give spectacular views of the journey through the mountains, unfortunately
there are only spectacular views if you sit on the left side, if like me
you sit on the right side you don’t really see anything, it is also not
helped hat as soon as anything interesting goes past everyone on the left
stands up to take pictures, this is very inconsiderate as for one thing
you will get exactly the same shot as if you are sitting down just a few
inches lower and it also obscures the view of everyone on the right side
of the train.
When we finally arrive at Machu Picchu Station in Aguas Calientes I am met
by my guide who packs my rucksack off me and gives it to a guy from my
hotel, we then wait for everyone else to arrive.
We walk over to the bus station and take the bus up the hill to Machu
Picchu. The bus zig zags up the winding road to the main entrance of Machu
Picchu, when we get there we have to wait for everyone else from the group
to arrive. Once we enter Machu Picchu we go up and to the left following
the long train signs, this gets us to the top of the terraces to give us
the picture postcard view of the site. After everyone gets all the
pictures they need we continue following a set route through the main
gate, temples zone, three windows, observatory, ceremonial rock, three
doorways and finally the Temple of the Condor, this is where our guided
tour finishes.
I spend the next five hours exploring the place myself and go to the
Temple of the Sun and the fountain areas. I also take a bit of a walk to
find the Inca Bridge before just sitting from one of the high terraces for
about an hour just looking down on the place.
When I finally leave I get the bus back to Aguas Calientes and go to my
hotel the Hostal Plaza and then explore the town a bit before getting
something to eat and heading back to bed for an early night. |
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Train to Machu Picchu |
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Machu Picchu |
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