RTW Day 5: Machu Picchu

I woke up at 5 AM feeling pretty sick, and blamed it on the malaria pills I'm taking. I picked up a "breakfast to-go" from Henri and got on the train to Aguas Calientes at the base of Machu Picchu. On the way I talked to an ex-Navy vet named Kent from Las Angeles. He had some interesting travel stories and was very supportive of my own travels.

The train had excellent views, and I got to watch the dry, desert-like hills near Cusco slowly evolve into a lush, green forest at the bottom of gigantic mountains with absolutely vertical walls.

At Aguas Calientes I again wandered aimlessly until I swallowed my pride and asked a policewoman where the Hell Machu Picchu is. Most people were taking the bus but in my infinite wisdom I decided to walk. I was feeling arrogant and prideful until I saw exactly what I would be hiking up:

Honestly it wasn't so bad but the hike the day before and the lingering nausea made it a tough climb. At the top I entered Machu Picchu, but I didn't have time to look around because the real hike up Wayna Picchu was supposed to start immediately. Begrudgingly I started up the incredibly steep stairs and dizzying dropoffs toward the summit. Eventually I got to the ruins, but the stairs didn't end there:

Though exhausted and feeling quite sick, I made it up to the very peak and the views were incredible and absolutely worth it:

The way down was painless except most people were (rightfully) terrified of the heights and steep, horribly unsafe stairs. I was just happy to be going down and took time to appreciate the views.

At the bottom I wandered Machu Picchu for another hour or so before finally succumbing to my body and calling it a day. There was another peak to summit, and some alternate, also spectacular views I missed, but I'm happy with what I saw.

I stopped at the gate for some expensive water (8 Soles compared to 1.50 normally...). Even though I was feeling pretty rough and surely looked grumpy and uninviting, I did talk to a girl from Switzerland for a bit. Cheered me up quite a bit, and I got to know a little about that part of Europe.

After parting ways I took a bus down the big hill, hopped on the train back to Ollantaytambo, and hit my pillow the second I got back. Whew.