Return from Machu Picchu

Hey everyone

So today is Sat 7 November and we returned from MP last night at about 7pm. We were tired, smelly (v), overwhelmed but really happy and proud we did it. AND Glenn is feeling fine.

We have spent today just sleeping, showering, getting our laundry done, and preparing for our next trip - we are going on an overnight bus to arequipa and then on a trip to the Colca Canyon where we can see Condors. I paste a link below to the wiki explanation of the canyon.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colca_Canyon

So we still haven´t worked on how to upload pictures but will work on that tomorrow as we have a free day to orient ourselves in arequipa. It will take a while to find those which make us look windswept and interesting as compared to knackered and like we are about to give up.

OK - so Machu Picchu:

Day 1: Meet at 5.15 - alarm went off at 4.30am - nice. Bus for about 3 hrs including stop for brekky. We walked for about 6.5 hrs mostly uphill and reached camp about 4.30 in the afternoon, including a stop for lunch. First impressions - this day was supposed to be the easiest, but was really really hard. Lots of out of breath, legs aching - for Nina it was challenging but could do it. Glenn was throwing up the whole day and felt really really ill. Another girl (Natasha) was the same and was actually taken to the medical centre. Glenn felt like death not even warmed up and was not eating anything (which makes the day even harder).

(n.b. at the same time we felt it was really hard, the porters who carry the main luggage, tents and food etc) were running past with 25kg on their backs not even out of breath).

Anyway the guides were really nice and gave Glenn some special tea plus some good advice about what food to avoid. He had 4 dry crackers for tea whereas the rest of us had loads and loads of food. It is a bit like skiing where you are working so hard that you have massive meals to keep the calories up. Result. Slept in the tent in a beautiful spot with the rain pouring down.

Day 2 - Glenn feeling better, but being very careful about what he eats (dry carbs and special tea) but no more throwing up - yey! This is the hardest day, basically 11 hours of walking in 4 stages: from 3,300 m to 4,200 m (dead woman´s pass), then down to 3580m, then lunch. Then up to 4000m and down to 3600 m. Inca people seemed to like really steep hills and loads and loads of steps. The downhill parts were almost harder because of the impact on the knees and it was slippy in the afternoon due to constant rain (we wore red ponchos, really good look). We had walking sticks to help - everyone did (not just us) and it really helped. In hindsight we would have had 2 rather than 1 each but didn´t want to look like british pensioners out for a sunday afternoon trek....

This day was really hard, but weirdly the best day as when you have climbed up loads and loads of steps which are practically vertical and got to the top, you feel amazing. Plus glenn was better and actually enjoyed it. On the return to camp, the porters clap you back, which feels good.

The air is amazing and the views are really amazing - every 5 minutes there is a kodak moment, so there will be lots to bore everyone with when we get back. Also, the group was really good. There was 14 of us (including craig and natasha - who felt better the second day) and it was an international group - we had people from USA, denmark, ireland, dubai, UK, ecuador and france. The camaraderie of the group really made the difference during the trek and made the evenings at dinner really fun.

The most over-used phrases of the day were át my own pace´and ´take your time´ and ámazing´. When we were tired, chewing coca leaves really helped (thanks for the tip, clare). The weirdest moment was when it was raining at the end of the trek and i was singing the grease medley to glenn. Lucky glenn.

Day 3: Easier day - but lots of downhill. Better weather today and a much easier pace. All the way through we were stopping at inca sites and receiving information on inca culture - so we could feel we learnt something as well as did the trek.

Day 4 - up at 3.30am to get to MP for an early start. Quite hard trekking up stairs (´gringo killer steps´) to get to the sun gate. The view was amazing as the mists rolled up - it was really mystical and weird. We waited to see if it would clear (it didn´t) and then walked to MP. After an hour or so, the mist started to clear and we walked round MP. It was amazing (that word again) and we could see the remains of various temples and buildings which gave an insight into inca culture. Marco and Francisco (our guides) were brilliant the whole way through - from motivating, to sorting our medical emergencies, to taking the piss, to giving hour long lectures on the inca culture. They have to do a 5 yr uni course to become guides and they basically made the trip as good as it was.

Then home, shower and a quick meal out (and beer) to belatedly celebrate Nina´s birthday and our wedding anniversary. Can´t think of a better way to have spent the time, and it was totally a trip of a life time!

OK, so we have to go and get our bus now. Thanks for all the comments, it is great to read them and makes us feel in touch with everyone. Missing everyone, but having a fab time (as you can tell).

Nina and Glenn (now back in the game).