Rumichaca Hostel Urubamba

... first descent was, again, beyond belief with some parts almost a vertical staircase with no margin for error, on a cliff edge, whilst the rain fell making the steps a virtual ornamental waterfall effect.

Although there was mostly trees and other vegetation `hiding` the cliff=edge, it wasn`t like that all the time and there were plenty sheer drops to the ferocious river hurtling by 3500 feet below. Davy and TM always warned me and said `keep left and don`t look ...

... as it is basically there as a stop over used by people before starting the Inca trail. We had dinner in this amazing cafe called Hearts Cafe which is run by a 75 year old British woman who moved out there a few years ok. Itīs a charity where all the profits go towards community schemes to help the people in the village with education and healthcare, was incredible to see all the things sheīs done and continues to do with no financial help from ...

... terraces, clings to a mountain ridge, linked by scores of stairways and paths, and watered by natural springs. No other civilization has managed to assemble so many colossal stone blocks so seamlessly. Cut with stone or bronze tools, the edges of the stones were rubbed smooth until they merged together perfectly, like a jigsaw. Just how the Incas transported the granite they chiseled from the mountain remains a talking point for scholars today.

... were showing off some local alpaca wool clothing, and THEN we had a man dressed as some kind of Cusco puppet or something dancing up and down the aisle with a stuffed llama toy… AND the train driver had to keep stopping and jumping out of the train to change the train tracks (we were at the front of the train and could see this). The strangest train journey we’ve had. We were all laughing the whole way at the absurdity of it!

When we arrived at ...

... it was fairly flat at this time and a sign read Sun Gate 6km, this was encouraging, I knew that I would make it there without a problem.

Another couple of minutes past and bang my stomach began to attack me, I felt sick, dizzy and fairly unwell, I stopped and lent over a rock, I wasn't sure what was up but realised that it was more than over eating, my energy seemed to be draining, as if someone had opened a valve and it was rushing from me. Ruth and Ben ...

... toilets, no paper (of course, itīs S. America!) and no flush, lucky they had doors !!! Needless to say they were less than ideal !!Paul went straight to bed whilst Charlotte went for dinner, another culinary masterpeice considering we were camping. Early to bed as tomorrow is a difficult day. We would be walking 1for about 7 hours, which is about 15km and climbing 1600 meters up to the first pass-Dead Womans Pass.

... so little $$. Crazy.

After Pisac we went to an alpaca/llama rescue farm called Awana Kancha. We got to see and learn about all the different kinds (did you know the third member of that family tree is the camel?) as well as pet them and feed them. Amy was in heaven.

That's about it for now. It looks like while we are here in the Sacred Valley the late afternoon will be the best time for updating this blog, so hopefully another update tomorrow around ...

... just talking about money, but the most precious thing a person can ever own, the soul. Above all, protect your Sol. I revisit this rule with every person I meet, and every transaction that occurs. I’ve found that it has enhanced my time here exponentially, and it is a way of life that is probably just as appropriate for the states- but the states have much higher evolved methods of getting some of your Sol. Simple truths such as these become evident only through contrast.

... buses tend to blow through on one day tours of the Valley, often stopping only for lunch. So Mike was lucky to sell the business for what he paid minus the 30K he lost in expenses. But he's finding the bike tour business is slow as well. In the last two years he has led twelve groups per year and his rates aren't exactly exorbitant. He is trying to become an online retailer of bike parts as many US distributors won't send to Peru and he is ...

... thatīs when the feasting and the present-opening traditionally begins. Unfortunately for us light sleepers, the detonating of explosives then resumed on Christmas morning, has since continued on a daily basis, with New Yearīs Eve set to be the next sleepless night. An interesting fire cracker I saw on sale everywhere is a replica of the previous Peruvian president, somebody-or-other Fujimori. He was booted from office after a ...