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Getting to Cuzco, the mysterious capital of Incas, the oldest city in South America, and the gateway to the world-famous Machu Picchu.
Taking a van from Cuzco to Hidroeléctrico went slowly but eventually we arrived to Hidroeléctrico from where I began the 2-hour walk to Aguas Calientes. Evening went by playing cards (Trugos!) after which I went to my room where I met this French guy with who I started to climb the stairs then in the morning, early in the morning (4am to be exact).
Walking From Aguas Calientes to the gates of Machu Picchu took roughly an hour though the normal time taken is apparently more like 2 hours or a bit more. I, however, felt like flying up the stairs with just jeans on and got every time more energy when I saw people tired. Hopefully that doesn't make me a bad person, but seriously, I guess I just had done my acclimatization very well by travelling first in Bolivian Altiplano and then getting to the area of Sacred Valley.
Anyhow, I was among the first ones in the line to enter and when others were tired like rätti poikki kuolly väsynyt like someone could say in Finish, I wasn't. I flew the last stairs to the mirador and oh what a view it was! Machu Picchu without a single tourist was awe-astounishing even in the lovely misty weather I was blessed with. That view, much bigger than you would think (from the postcards and others' pictures) was incredible. Not so much because of the building itself but the location: built in the top of a ridge in the middle of deep cliffs is breath-taking.
Watching it there for couple hours, then walking around the ruins, final look from the mirador and then a descend back to Aguas Calientes, a massage, and a peaceful loooong night in my bed. The following day I returned to Cuzco and was sure that I will find out that I have passed all my exams in UADE. Didn't happen. Was still waiting for the last grade. Anyhow, Loki Hostel arranged a party as always, and I sang some Watchiturros in karaoke and everybody liked, at least the Argentinians were amused.
Continued to a club, then another club, then another, and met the guys I had been in with in the mines of Potosí! How awesome! So went with them to another club, then to another, til finally we ended up in a club named Groove which arranged one of the best parties I've ever had (mostly thanks to the awesome DJ)! At 5am approximately I left the party and walked in the wistful alleys of Cuzco til ended up having breakfast in the Mercado Central.
What happened next was a bit surprising even to me. I had totally forgotten that it's Epiphany and there was a big big gathering around the church! So off I went to the mass, fell asleep in the church, woke up for the sermon of the priest and witnessed a great experience!
A not-so-great experience followed, however. I got back to the hostel where I had a bit more breakfast and then went to sleep a bit. After 2-3 hours of hectic sleep I woke up with a nasty hang-overish feeling though I believe it was only because of lack of sleeping. The day did get a lot better in couple hours however when I found out that I had indeed passed all my courses in UADE!!! Passing 4 courses of which 3 was in Spanish (to remind, a language I did not speak when I arrived at Buenos Aires 4 months before the first exam) is the biggest achievement I have ever achieved (so far) and that, if something, made me really, really happy. A great ending for a great journey - a journey into the history of Incas, the most famous ancestors of Peruvians.
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