RTW Day 4: Tambomachay

Woke up on day 4 with a breakfast of, among other things, Corn Flakes with sweet cream. Peru does it right!

I walked through the Plaza de Armas to find a huge mass of people. Besides being Sunday, which Latin America takes VERY seriously, there is apparently some festival or event going on. I met a Venezuelan couple in the plaza that had just arrived and they were similarly bewildered.

I continued on toward the Rosapata market where I was hoping to find a bus out to Tambomachay. The market was bustling:

The bus arrived, but it was full so I had to wait. The second bus was also full, but they made room for me. And a few more people. And then some more people. It was so crowded, I'm glad I learned in Thailand how to give up my concept of private or personal space.

Tambomachay was a welcome big, open space, but unfortunately I arrived at the same time as multiple buses full of tour groups. Unavoidable it seems. A little frustrated, I started down a path up a steep hill and off into the wilderness. I'm not sure whether or not it was allowed or legal, but the path kept going and so did I.

I probably followed the trail back about three miles, until I found what I thought was a bridge across the river. It was in fact definitely not a bridge, but instead some kind of wire or pipe, so I had to scramble down the steep hill, across the rocks in the river, and up the other side.

 

Walking back I found a small cave/ruins. Incan or not I thought it was cool, and I chose to eat my lunch there. I found some flowers in a nook in the cave so I don't think I was the first to do so.

After my lunch I walked back to the entrance, waded through the gaggle of tourists, and started walking to Cusco.

The walk back was fun. I walked along the road for about three miles, past roadside homes and stores. Scared a family of pigs. Eventually the path diverged from the road (thankfully, as Cusqueñan drivers have a need for speed) and I walked along a path with a whole bunch of people on horseback.

I met two Peruvian couples also walking who were very interested in Alaska. The guy named Joel told me a little about life in Northern Peru and how beautiful it is. Another recurring theme is apparently Northern Peru is the place to be.

I was back on my own soon enough and ended up at another ruin called the Temple of the Sun:

Not much further I found the same path I walked the day before and continued on into Cusco. Here I hopped on a bus to Ollantaytambo where I would stay the night before going to Machu Picchu. I got my own seat for the 90 min ride and talked to a 15yr old girl named Michelle from Colorado who regularly visits family in Peru and firmly believes she never travels. She told me a lot about the little towns in Peru, how they are more poor and less fun, and how schools are split between genders.

Ollantaytambo was beautiful coming in, and I spent about an hour wandering around. That may or may not have been because I couldn't find my hotel and was too proud to ask for directions in the tiny town. I finally found it, and was surprised by the simple aesthetic beauty of it. Inside on the third floor one wall opened to a balcony where I could see the sky, mountains and ruins between the clotheslines full of drying towels and sheets. Pretty cool.

After it got dark Henri, the co-owner of the place, came up and turned off the lights so I could see the stars ("estrellas"). I know Alaska has good views, but WOW. Besides seeing the Southern Cross, which was new for me, I also got to see Mars, Jupiter, Rigel, Virgo and the Milky Way. I haven't seen that density of stars I think ever, even in remote NE Colorado. Very cool.

After stargazing I ate a delicious meal of Misso Alpaca (alpaca steak) and went to sleep exhausted. My last thoughts were about the upcoming hike and how I should have put a day of rest in there somewhere. Meh.