URNotAlone

Cuzco to the Inca Trail, Machu Pichu!!!!!!!

January 18th, 2007 8:28 am MST

Hola, well I made it to Cuzco, I was only stuck in Lima for 1 extra night.  I arrived in Bolivia with enough time to realize I might have to visit again, but a more Southernly area.  On the bus to Puno, ate some awesome chicken, saw a lot of vendors selling everything from socks to juices and stuff.  I had to buy some supplies for the family I was going to stay with on Amantane Island, very affordable, rice, flour, coloring pencils, sugar,pasta, and some other stuff, all for around 20 Soles(3.17 soles/$1.00 American)   Off we go by boat to Taquile Island...hollllleeeee crap, I hiked to the top, without nary a break, other than to take photos of the beautiful scenery!  once at the top, we had a small amount of time to look at the shop, and do a few more pics.  on the way to the resteraunt, more pics of scenery and a couple of locals.  Lunch: Trout from Lake Titicaca, with rice, and a coke, bread and salsa like spread (ALL FRESH) Very tasty, and all for 15 Soles! back on the boat, wicked rain, but when we arrived to Amantane (spelling maybe different) it was a really nice day.  Start the hike to the house of the local family I will be with for today and tomorrow,  Wow, really, really thin air, I was huffing and puffing, so much so, that the lady tried to carry my pack for me, no way, I packed it, I carry it!  We made it!  Played a little football(soccer) against the locals, all of them used to the altitude! I now have an optional hike to the father moon gate or something, the translation was vague...okay, I am not in the worst shape, but I have to tell you, I was really hurting, and felt my heart beating way more than usual, after about an hour, the view was MAGNIFICENT!  Back down we all go, after a couple of hours, the family I was with cooked me dinner, quhino soup and a rice potatos and stuff meal, very hearty and rich.  another hour goes buy, and the house mother, brings me a poncho, and a knitted hat, because we are going to a dance at a little hall.    Okay, remember when I said I wasn�t in horrible shape!  Well, I don�t know how they dance so long, and sooooo fast, but I had a riot, while holding my beating heart that is!  I think they dance the turistas that hard so they sleep well thaT night!   back to Puno the next day, stopping at the Floating Reed Islands, the people that live on these islands, try not to associate with the mainlanders, very traditional (VERY), truly something one has to experience, than hear about.  We rode on a Reed boat to meet our regulatr motor boat, a little shopping on the reed islands, and then back to Puno.  Puno, again, I am feeling like home made crap, I sleep from about1630 hrs off and on until 0600 hrs.   On the bus to Cuzco!  I am in Cuzco right now, still feel really bad, but am slowly getting better (kinda like the flu) So, I am off to visit some churches and inca sites on my own today.  I hope it is warm where you are!ADIOS.