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Machu Picchu day!!!! 3:30 am start. Managed a brief squeeze of success in the squatting position at about 4:30 am.
Only about two hours of walking, most of it manageable except for one set of stairs that - if it was anywhere else - would be called a wall. Elistan set a cracking pace out front and Yennifer and I were the only ones walking with him. He told us that the spiritual thing he did yesterday was at the spot on the trek were one of the people in his group died last week. He said it was terrible - he was a 63 yo American with heart problems who was pushing too hard and wouldn't quit. Elistan tried to help him as best he could - even carrying him with porters some of the way and encouraging him to slow right down. But he pushed too hard and died from a massive heart attack. Elistan had to wait with his body for 24 hours while the police / embassy officials and family came. He said he felt a weight had been lifted after yesterday's ceremony. Thing is, he's not let in about his sadness or stress at all this week. Exactly the opposite actually - he's been knowledgable and passionate and wickedly funny. We told him so.
Reached Sun Gate,which is first place to see MP - but the cloud was covering it. After about 10 minutes though the cloud cleared for about five mins and the sight of it was awesome. And obviously improved as we marched closer and eventually reached it. Elistan gave a great tour; then we did some frolicking about by ourselves - Yen went llama hunting and I did machupicchuspins for insta.
Then maybe the best part of the trek so far - two 20 minute sessions on a proper toilet, about an hour apart. Feel so virile again.
Had some well deserved pisco sours afterwards in Aguas Calientes, as well as a soak in the hot springs which made us feel and smell human again. Found out Agusto is a cop - seriously, he is Spanish Chief Wiggum. He told me about pika flora meaning "hummingbird" or "Casanova"; and chicca wakka meaning a similar thing.
The whole crew were in great spirits afterwards (we all spent the afternoon in the town drinking etc) and had some fun on the train ride home. They're not a bad lot after all :)
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