We were up at 4:30 am to get ready to get going on our adventure to Machu Picchu. Unfortunately, Kelly had been up half the night with vomiting and diarrhea. She must have gotten into some bad food or something because she was feeling fine all day while at the Sacred Valley.
She looked a little green but was bound and determined to get to Machu Picchu. We finally boarded the train and she was able to rest a little. It didn’t last too long because shortly after boarding she had to vomit again.
Some Poor Neighborhoods VIDEO
The scenery on the train ride was spectacular! The train only travelled at 15 mph so everyone could capture the beauty of the surroundings.
Hikers preparing to start their hike on the Inca Trail a 3 night 4 day hike up to Machu Picchu. Hikers have to be permitted and have porters with them.
Never ending beautiful views.
When we arrived in Aguas Calientes, we were transferred immediately to the buses that would take us to the” Lost City of the Incas.” Machu Picchu is at 7,900 ft. considerably lower then Cusco, so Ron and I were feeling really well. Kelly was not doing so well, but being the trooper that she is she hopped on the bus to experience Machu Picchu.
The bus ride was quite the event traveling along incredible switchbacks that left you breathless when another bus was coming in the opposite direction. Even on a good day the ride could make one nauseous.
After a 20 minute bus ride we made it to the entrance. Walking up the steps and overlooking Machu Picchu was overwhelming. It was even more spectacular then I believed it could be. Words cannot describe – only pictures and being there.
Kelly was able to see and experience some of Machu Picchu but unfortunately she began vomiting violently shortly after this picture was taken. Patrick brought her back to the hotel where she took her first dose of Cipro and spent the next 19 hours recuperating.
This mountaintop citadel, which served as both a center of worship and an astronomic observatory, is located in the middle of the cloud forest overlooking the Urubamba River. There are both agricultural and urban areas constructed with the precision stonework the Incas were known for. The agricultural areas consist of terraces and food storehouses and the urban areas contain temples, squares and royal tombs.
Pictures cannot capture the beauty and the glory of Machu Picchu. The structures are amazing and to think they were hidden in the mountains for hundreds of years.
To preserve and protect the area the number of people able to enter has been reduced to 2500 hh people per day.
After touring Machu Picchu we we treated to a buffet lunch. Alan, our guide had lunch with us and shared that he and his girlfriend are expecting a baby girl in October.! How exciting for him.
Unfortunately Kelly and Patrick could not continue the tour at that time. . She was back at the hotel tucked in for the day. Patrick did return to Machu Picchu to view the ruins on his own.
Back at the hotel we checked in on Kelly and then went to our room. The hotel sits on the main road and is in the process of major repair. In 2010 they had a torrential rainfall that flooded the town and took out many of the roads. They had landslides that wiped out a portion of the railroad tracks. Our guide told us that several embassies sent helicopters to get their citizens' to safety.
Some of the buildings in town.
When Patrick returned from Machu Picchu we made plans to go to dinner with him. The food was OK and we had some laughs. He brought Kelly some chicken broth and she was beginning to feel a little better.
Tomorrow we will be heading back to Cusco on the train and preparing for the next leg of our journey.
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