Hey guys,

We have just come back from Machu Picchu, we trecked for 4 days in a group of 16 people (eek, sounded like a huge group at first, but was actually really lovely) We set off at 5:20am on Monday morning and then set off about 9am walking, after a cheesy group picture. We were carrying packs with clothes, sleeping bag, roll mat, water and snacks....I had me book too!!!!! Just like Frodos burden, I carried him!!!!

Our guide was ace, he described the treck as a pilgramige going along the traditional Inca trail, we are a family.......he was really cool and enthusiastic, he had lots of extra optional bits we could do and see if we wanted too.

Our group consisted of 7Brits, 2Irish, 5Americans, 1Aussie, 1Swiss/Peruvian..we ranged from 24-34 and we pretty much matched in physical ability. There was some really really fit people, and some not so fit, but there was only about 20-30mins between the first and last person...we were a quick group and usually arrived at our food stops and camps an hour before the quoated time.......so it was all good fun and did all the extra bits, looking at extra ruins and longer routes!

The second day was the hardest, we rose to 4200M up to a mountian pass called ´Dead womans pass´ when we got there four of us climbed the extra scramble to the peak...a bit dodge....slippy, muuddy and cloudy..but cool....then we made an offering to Pachamamma with rocks from the bottom of the mountain, some coca leaves and some Rum....we all had a cup, soem rum, you pour some on the floor for Pachamamma and then toasted and drank..it was really cool!!! Then we descended for a couple of hours!!!

The next day we had rain for the first time, it was a bit grim! we were all soaked....we ascended for the first part of the day, but not hard at all.....we were again really early for our lunch (10:30, instead of 11:30) then some of the hikers took on the Chasquis (Porters) packs (25kilos), supposed to be for 40mins, but they took the packs up to the next check point!!! The we descended again for the rest of the day, the sun came out, and were were descending into the eyebrow of the jungle so the weather was getting more and more tropical! We went to some extra ruins and learnt about terraces, and what different settlements were designed for...farmacuiticals, plants, watch tower type places...then we got to the closest camp to Machu Picchu and went to the bar.....Lizzie and I didnt drink, i wanted to save it till we were fully finished!!!!! We could have paid for a shower 10Nuevo Soles but decided against it!!! We went to some ruins called Winyawayna (?) meaning Forever Young, because of how well preserved they are!

Then the next morning we were up at 3:50 quick breakfast andthen rushing for the gate...it opended at 5:20...then we all get released...there was a strange energy around all the hikers all wanting to get to the Sun Gate...it was supposed to take 1 hour, it took us 30mins!!! Then the view was cloudy and so we didnt linger since we coucn´t see the ruins and we made our way down.....we were racing to try and get a permit to Climb Wayna Picchu (young mountian) they relsease 400 tickets a day for 7am and then 10am...Our tour of the ruins was at 8 and so we wanted 10am tickets but they had all ran out!!!! So anyway we were making our way swiftly down to the ruins, many of us ran for a little while...it was quite exciting!! We got the the ruins for 6:45......it was a strange experience, there were loads of clean and well presented people there, some looked at us in a strange manner..we were sweaty, red faced, dirty and smelly carrying big packs on our backs!!!

Then we had a tour of the ruins, they were so beautiful, and impressive, and well designed and thought out...OUr guide Freddy, was so enthusiastic, he is also a History teacher and was so passionate about Quechua (Inka) culture and their history, and intelligance.... you really got involved in his story!!! It was shile doing the tour that someone walked passed our group and commented on our stench!!!! We found ourselves strangely smug toward to the ´lazy´people as Freddy called them that we were dirty, tired, and hungry by the time we got there!!!!

We lingered for a few hours and then made our way down to Aquas Calientes.....really the only reason that place is there is because of Machu Picchu...very touristy...but we were starving and had the most amazing Pizza and Chips and then a beer....soooo good...we didnt get home until 10:30pm, we had a train ride where we drank some more and laughed and made merry...then a hap hazard bus journey with our trainee guide Husto who was drunk, we bought some more beer but everyone was knackered.....we were up for 19hours in total....killer......we stank so much when we got back to the Hostal...I had the most amazing shower!!!!

And now we are back and pondering our next move!!!!