ROAD TO MACHU PICCHU

Some spectacular terrain

YES, that is a 300meter drop just over the edge of the road (photo taken from my seat in the bus!!!).

Somehow, I did fall asleep, but that morning I had a splitting headache….bus came around 7:30am to pick me up … and I was lucky enough to be sitting next to this girl (Holly), and as I mentioned that I had altitude sickness, she responded that she had the same few days earlier, and gave me some of her SOROJCHI pills… amazing stuff (all locals use it, as her Peruvian boyfriend advised) .. within an hour, I was feeling normal again……On a side note, I’m thinking (hoping) that these pills will also cure a hangover … which I will test out once I get to sea level!!!

So Machu Picchu is only approx 70kms away from Cusco (direct line) … how long do you think it took us by bus ….. 10 hours!!!!
I didn’t realize that it was such a long trip, but then when you consider that there is no straight road between A and B in the Andes, and that we had to drive around all these valleys .. the hours just add up (some 300km plus trip) .
There were some spectacular views as we meandered through the Andes, however, the roads were narrow and winding, and with some drops of 300-400m within feet of the road banks (forget about any crash barriers), the constant death markers were a real reminder of how dangerous Peru was to traverse by bus.

We arrived in Aguas Calientes after 6pm, and after a dinner, and instructions from our Guide, off to bed for a 4am start to get to Machu Picchu by 6am (a 30 minute bus ride up the hill) to be there for the sunrise.