K+K Travels: Tuesday, September 8, 2015

It pours overnight but the clouds part and we are back up to Machu Picchu. We first explore some parts of the city we didn’t see on Monday then cross over to the other side to register for the climb of the mountain you see in the far side of Machu Picchu, Waynapicchu (8,920). This climb requires a reservation and we have reservations looking up the steep, jungle side of the mountain and wonder how there could be a trail up to the top! We start off up, then down and then to the beginning of the climb. In many places there are cables attached to the side of the rocky cliffs we are ascending as we (slowly) work our way up the trail. In places it is wide enough and flat enough to stand and rest while others pass us either heading down or up. In many places it is so narrow that no one can pass. It takes all our effort for one full hour to make it to the top. We first come upon some terraces used for farming, then cross one terrace to an overlook to see Machu Picchu from the other side. We see across to the other mountain where the Inca Trail crosses a pass called the Sun Gate and descends down to Machu Picchu well below us. We climb though a narrow tunnel in the rock to the very top where we rest and recover before the descent. On the way down we pass by several structures but are too tired to inquire of Wilson of their use or why they were built on the top of this tall and narrow peak. We really are only interested in getting down. The way down loops around the peak and the first 100 yards requires us to descend down ancient steps 18 inches long and 4 or 5 inches wide. After rejoining the trail we came up we (slowly) descend stopping several times to let our “sewing machine” legs recover a bit. We survive and log out at the base. Wilson has several sites he still wants to show us but we just want to get to the restaurant and recover. We stop and show some interest in a few things mainly to rest rather than out of genuine interest. We make it back to the Sanctuary Lodge Restaurant. After a while, we ride the bus back down to the train station and board the train to Cusco. The ride is gratefully slow and our spirits pick up. The food on the train is surprisingly good (we are discovering that there is a wonderful food culture in Peru where local ingredients are wonderfully prepared.) We talk to our seatmate, Santiago from the Canary Islands, enjoy both a traditional dance by a costumed dancer as well as a fashion show by the attendants of nice alpaca clothing. Wilson (who had a work issue and detrained at the Ollantaytambo station), and Omar meet us and take us to the JW Marriott Hotel in Cusco. It is late, so we just shower and change then eat snacks in our room and drop into bed.