02/23 - to Machupicchu Pueblo

We got up early and followed our map of Cusco to the area (near Av. Grau & Pavitos) where "Jenny" had told us we would be able to find a bus to the Ollantaytambo train station. We stopped to eat breakfast at a small cafe along the way. It was a huge plate of rice with a big hunk of cordero [lamb], smothered in gravy-sauce, served with bread and coffee. It's fairly traditional breakfast fare, and was very cheap.

Then we found a mini-bus (via a guy was waving people down on the sidewalk) that was making the 2-hour trip to Ollantaytambo. He charged us s./10 per person, and, when he had flagged down enough people to fill every seat in the van, we left. There was a Scotswoman on board, and we spoke with her about her work. She moved to Peru, recently, to continue her volunteer work with an organization that helps children in the remote mountain villages.

I realized I had forgotten my sunglasses on the Sacred Valley tour bus, which was a bummer, so I bought an overpriced pair from a vendor when we got to the train station: s./25 for glasses that have "Chanel" engraved on the lens. Ha. We met a woman from Pennsylvania in the waiting room. She was with a tour group, but wishing she had come to Peru on her own, instead. We boarded our Inca Rail train, and traveled another hour to Machupicchu Pueblo / Aguas Calientes.



When we got there, we found Hostal Inti Quilla, where we would stay for the next two nights. We walked around the small town. It's very pleasant there. There are no vehicles on the streets-- just buses on the edge of town, which go only to Machupicchu's gate and back. People were playing on the fútbol field all day and night. We went to the hot springs. It was a little disappointing. The water was just barely warm, and it was incredibly crowded and rowdy and murky. We ate dinner and went to bed.