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31st AugWe woke up, grabbed the usual breakfast roll and jam and headed out to book onto our trips. We managed to book the rafting and then had to head out to the local bus station for our tickets to this random place on the way to macchu picchu. On arriving at the bus station we did have second thoughts about doing it this way but thought we might as well have a bit of an adventure. So we booked tickets for that evening and went back into town. We managed to find this restaurant called Jacks which was run by aussies and was meant to be amazing. After queing for about 20 mins we finally got seated and ended up eating the best food we had, had in Peru. It was amazing, like proper English food with none of the skanky Peruvian smell to it. Plus they did the most amazing milkshakes!! After completely stuffing our faces we wasted a couple of hours at the hostel and headed down to the bus station to catch our bus to santa maria. Ok so on we get and its not seeming too bad (apart from the obvious smell, and cramming in far to many people) and we set off for a 6 hr journey. Neither of us were able to sleep at all and there was this little boy who was having to stand all the way and was nearly sleeping on his feet. I felt awful to have a seat but he worked with the company and that is how it works. After quite a few stops we finally arrived at this place in the middle of nowhere at 1.30am and the only people who got off were a few other tourists also in search of macchu picchu on the cheap. So with our complete lack of Spanish we relied on them to get us into a collectivo which finally agreed to take us direct to hydoelectrico instead of another place on the way for 10 soles. So we set off and about 2 mins down the road the bus stops and this angry looking woman comes out and for the next 30 mins we argue about the price. In the end we all agree to go for 15 soles (bloody hell it's the difference of less then a pound but principles and all) Anyway 14 of us crammed into this tiny little van and we set off on some hair raising roads. We finally arrive at hydroelectrica where the next step of our adventure is to walk along the train tracks in the pitch black for 2-3hrs but with no map. We all set off but with people going at different paces and some people not going the right way we end up just the two of us walking and walking and walking. There is no light apart from our head torches, we have to cross bridges with huge drops underneath and listen to the sound of animals scuttling around in the bushes. It was pretty terrifying at first but you soon get used to it and finally after being chucked off the track one stop early and walking up this hill we arrive in Aguas Calientes which is the nearest town to macchu Picchu. We tried and failed to get some sleep, got ripped off for a skanky lunch that probably gave mike the s***s and then to make matters worse we find out that the only way home is by train and all the trains are booked up apart from one the following morning which is when we planned to go up to macchu picchu. So with no time to spare we grab the first bus and head on up to the ruins. There is no way in the world I can explain what it is like there. They are truly amazing and I think everyone should try and get to see them at least once in their lifetime. I was speechless!! We managed to spend a good 4 hours there before heading home down the mountainside. What an awesome day
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