MACHU PICCHU!!!

So much to tell!

So...I trekked an alternative route to Machu Picchu called the Inka Jungle Trail which was fantastic. We left last Friday and started with a day of mountain biking! We reached 4300m and cycled down hill for about 5 hours through the jungle which was beautiful and so much fun. We reached our first stop, Santa Maria where we had dinner and stayed the night. I was with a great group of people including 2 english boys who spoke no spanish and 2 chilean people who spoke no english so it was great for my Spanish as I ended up translating alot! The next day we began the trekking which started up a mountain which was exhausting as the jungle is really humid and the mountain was pretty steep! We joined onto an orignal Inca trail and snaked around mountains in the most beautiful valley. After walking for several hours we reached natural hot baths which were very much appreciated! So warm and in such an incredible place in the middle of the jungle covered mountains. We continued to Santa Theresa where we had dinner then went to a Salsa club which was more tiring than the walking! so much fun thoug! The next day we walked for a while along the river with fantastic views of Machu Picchu itself which looked scarily high up....We arrived in Agua Calientes and prepared ourself for waking up at 4am the next day! We began our climb at 4.30am up Incan stairs for an hour and half which was pretty tricky but totally worth it!

We arrived at the runis themselves at about 6am to see the ancient city covered in mist (as romantic as it sounds the unbelievable amount of tourists did take away from the magic a bit! especially as they had all just come up in the bus and in my opinion did not deserve to be there!). The mist cleared as the morning went to to reveal the incredible city buit ontop of a mountain! We had a tour around the runis which was fascinating then climbed the uneven steps up to Huaynu Picchu (the mountain at the back of the classic view of Machu Picchu) which again was pretty tiring but so worth it as the views from the top were incrdible! We then had time to explore Machu Picchu alone which was great. The ruins are so sureal and in just the most incredible setting surrounded by mountains. I absolutely loved it and cant believe that after thinking about going for so long I finally made it!

Unfortunately it took forever to get back because our guide told us the wrong time for our train so we missed it and had to get one at 12.30 at night and because of various strikes we got home at 5am!

Since then I have been working in the hospital which has been fantastic. I am now working with the Servicio Psicomotricidad...dont know what it is in English but it is really interesting. The children are so sweet, I will really miss them when I leave. Still loving life in Cusco, lots of my friends are here so it is really good fun. I got to work behind the bar at a club where I know some of the people who work there the other day which was fun! Lots of free drinks!

Everything is great and I am gutted that I only have another week here. I will definitely be back! Ah well, more places to go and people to see! xxxxxx