Mikkel spent most of the night going forth and back to the toilet. Not food poisoning but definitely something related to dinner. We had all our stuff packed and were ready for breakfast at 3:45 AM execpt Mikkel wasn't having any. Then we headed for the gate and sat there in the darkness for a little more than an hour waiting in a long line before being let through. Last leg of the Inca Trail and fingers crossed for a beautiful morning at the sun gate. First we had to climb the monkey steps - some very high steps - around 50 of them. We finally made it to the Sun Gate just before 7 AM and what a sight. Machu Picchu and the iconic mountain was there below us a few clouds drifting up from the valley - but picture perfect. We did a lot of photos like everybody else and then we finally started the 45 minute walk towards Machu Picchu itself now meeting other visitors coming towards us. They looked and smelled so clean compared to us.
Once we got to Machu Picchu our guides started to talk about group photos and didn't really pay attention to those of us who needed access to a toilet after having hiked for nearly three hours. So Mikkel had to run for the toilets and got away from the group while they did all the tourist photos. The toilets on Machu Picchu are located outside the main gate, so there was a small logistical problem about getting back in since Mikkel didn't have a ticket but at the end after some 45 minutes he was re-united with the guides and the group but decided to stay at the cafe. At 10 in the morning the crowds arrive and he really didn't feel like walking around more.
Malene spent another hour and a half walking around with the group before coming to the cafe. We headed for the big queue to the shuttle bus which would take us to Aguas Calientes and meeting with the rest of the group at 1 PM. We got there, some ordered lunch, our guides did sign our "I did the Inca Trail"-diplomas and then we had the rest of the afternoon to hang out. We found a place that served cake and coffee and waited there until we had to go to the station. The Belgians stayed in Aguas Calientes for the night, so we said bye to them, headed for the station and made our way back to Cusco with the train, and then got a bus from Ollantaytambo.
Back in Cusco it was Halloween Friday, something they take super seriously so most of the town seemed to be packed with dressed up people. We just wanted to get back to our hostel, have our stuff and most of all a shower after 4 days of camping and hiking. Even the guy at the reception was dressed up when we got there - a very scary version of the joker. We got a key to our room - and had the best shower in a long time. And then headed to bed. No more early mornings for a while. Especially not tomorrow.
Once we got to Machu Picchu our guides started to talk about group photos and didn't really pay attention to those of us who needed access to a toilet after having hiked for nearly three hours. So Mikkel had to run for the toilets and got away from the group while they did all the tourist photos. The toilets on Machu Picchu are located outside the main gate, so there was a small logistical problem about getting back in since Mikkel didn't have a ticket but at the end after some 45 minutes he was re-united with the guides and the group but decided to stay at the cafe. At 10 in the morning the crowds arrive and he really didn't feel like walking around more.
Malene spent another hour and a half walking around with the group before coming to the cafe. We headed for the big queue to the shuttle bus which would take us to Aguas Calientes and meeting with the rest of the group at 1 PM. We got there, some ordered lunch, our guides did sign our "I did the Inca Trail"-diplomas and then we had the rest of the afternoon to hang out. We found a place that served cake and coffee and waited there until we had to go to the station. The Belgians stayed in Aguas Calientes for the night, so we said bye to them, headed for the station and made our way back to Cusco with the train, and then got a bus from Ollantaytambo.
Back in Cusco it was Halloween Friday, something they take super seriously so most of the town seemed to be packed with dressed up people. We just wanted to get back to our hostel, have our stuff and most of all a shower after 4 days of camping and hiking. Even the guy at the reception was dressed up when we got there - a very scary version of the joker. We got a key to our room - and had the best shower in a long time. And then headed to bed. No more early mornings for a while. Especially not tomorrow.
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| Waiting to enter the last stage of the Inca trail |
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| At the Sun Gate |
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| Machu Picchu Morning Mist |
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| Happy European hikers |
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| Machu Picchu post card picture |
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| The mandatory postcard picture |
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| The girls - Malene, Louise and Marie |
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| The guys - Jonas and Mikkel - Oh where's Mikkel? |
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| Malene and Mikkel - hmmm still haven't seem Mikkel |
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| Machu Picchu Selfie |
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| Queue for the shuttle bus |
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| In Aguas Callientes |
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| Angry mosquitos |
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| Heading for the train back to Cusco |
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| Halloween check in at the hostel |
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