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So the lost city trek was really good, and so few people do it in comparison to the treks to Machu Picchu that made it really special, there were less than 20 people in the lost city when we finally got there so to have the place to more or less yourself was really cool and unique.
The first day was perhaps the toughest of all the days not really because of the distance but we set off trekking just after lunch in the baking heat and over 70% humidity and this was really tough after only 5 minutes i was soaked with sweat and that remained the case for the whole trek by the end i smelt so bad it was disgusting anyway, that first day was mostly uphill throught the jungle and the views at the top when you came out of all the vegetation were spectacular huge valleys and everything was so lush and green completely different from the snow capped peaks i'd seen before on the previous treks, and really worth all the sweating. When we arrived at camp after about 5 hours on that first day there was a small waterfall and a pool at the bottom that we jumped into to get rid of some of the sweat and to cool off this was so nice and cold and just what you needed after the hard days trek.
The second day was quite a short and easy day mainly downhill and we arrived at the camp for a late lunch this was nice but i did feel like i could of walked a bit longer some of the others in the group were struggling though so we sat by the river again and were in and out all afternoon cooling off at various points it was a nice place to relax and enjoy the spectacular setting.
The third day was a bit tougher we had to cross the river 4 times and clamber over the rocks on the river bank for about 2 km this was hard work and tougher because it started to rain and the rocks were really sliperary this was our base camp for the ascent to the lost city the following morning, which was going to be an early start so it was a very early night but there was such a storm that sleeping in the hammocks was a bit more difficult than usual, i have never seen rain like it it rained all night and the river rose about 1 1/2 metres and waterfalls appeared where there wernt any before as the velocity of the water got more and more.
When we finally set off in the morning the river had subsided a bit lukily because we had to cross it another 4 times there and then back again 8 times, and if it had been as strong as the night before we wouldnt of had a hope, anyway after the climb up 2000 steps to the cities entrance it was really impressive, and completely different ot machu picchu because they built there houses from wooden materials there remains were no longer there you can only see the foundation stones and have to imagine how they lived it was really interesting and the views were stunning and to have so few people there made for excelllent photos and a real unique feeling, We spent about 2 hours walking round the part of the city thats been uncovered and then back down all those steps which was so dangerous because they were slipy from the nights rain all covered in moss and no bigger than 2 inches with huge drops and so steep it was a relief to get down in one piece, we had a quick lunch and then had to walk back to the camp we stayed at on the second night so this was a longer day we set off just as more torrential rain started and cos the soil is so clay based walking down the hills was a death trap everyone fell over at least once and it took far longer to get back because you had no control over where your body would end up i was just sliding down the mountain and when i got to camp covered in mud it was again a relief not to be injured.
The last day was just a walk back along the path to where we began and we set off early to avoid the rain that was expected for the afternoon this trek was the longest of all the days and at times quite tough but by avoiding the rain it was nowhere near as scary as the previous day. I got back to the hostel in santa marta and had a quick shower before starting the longest bus journey i've known anyone to ever have or heard of, 149 hours, 6 consecutive nights finally reaching santiago, this was painful boring at times and by the end but i was so glad to get there, and i was staying in the best hostel ever, it had a massive kitchen, loads of communial spaces, a bar, swimming pool, cricket net (the guy that owned it is captain of the chilian cricket team) and loads of people, anyway apart from the hostel santiago was actually a little dissapointing and so cold compared to what im used to, i had to go and buy more clothes, as someone said to me and its a really good way to descibe it is that its a city with no soul, you could be anywhere in the world and you wouldn't know, anyway it was a good way to spend a few days and break up the journey before moving on again, it makes for a good place to get things done.
After exploring the city for a few days im now in Medoza after the stricktest border ever cant believe how long it took to pass imigration 2 1/2 hours in total and in another great hostel again with a pool just a shame its winter and not hot enough to use it, i went out for an amazing steak dinner last night in a nice little restaurant but really popular its so cheap to eat steak here but anything else is expensive suits me though, i'll probably look like steak when i get back though. Anyway this steak was with mushrooms and onions with a red wine reduction and a stuffed sweet potatoe with chili's it was so good.
Today i got up with the intention of visiting the winieries around mendoza this is the main attraction here but by the time i got up, its difficult to adjust to the way of liife over here they start work at 10 siesta for ages from half 12 to half 4 and then dont open restaurants for dinner until 10, so when i got up and out and found the info i needed it was kinda late and i wanted more time there so instead i spent more time walking the streets of Medoza its a really beautiful place massive streets and plazas a pedestrianised centre and so European that there is loads of craft stalls and street performers maybe there was more because it was friday afternoon but it was so nice to relax and the sun came out so it was warm as well and you could just watch things happen. Also i went to a really small museum in the centre which had some really good art in it and a really interesting exhbit of heads carved from stone they were carved with braile and the heads had no eyes it was art for the blind such a cool concept i loved it, just wish i could read braile to see what i actyually meant rather than making a guess. So tonight the hostel im in is having a joint BBQ with another 3 hostels and im going to that so it should be fun with lots of people and meat yum. Argentine BBQ's look amazing i saw one last night but they are full of meat and massive lumps of meat that they cook for ages im really looking forward to it i havent eaten all day in anticipation.
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