We decided to walk to the bus station rather than take a cab as the hotel suggested. It wasn't far but I took a wrong turn. We asked for directions but we're still lost. We found a taxi driver in a really beat up car to take us. Turns out we circled the bus station we just didn't know it.
While waiting for the bus to take us to the train station (trains don't run to Cuzco during the rainy season. Too any landslides) we were entertained by Peruvian singers and dancers.
When they called us to our bus we found that we were the only ones going from cuzco. So will and I and five staffers drove 1-1/2 hours to urubamba to catch the train.
We boarded the Hiram Bingham with a couple of dozen other people for the 3 hour 100 km ride to Machu Picchu. Yes our average speed was about 20 miles an hour. But it was a very scenic ride.
The mountains are like arrowHeads pointing to the sky. As we got closer the vegetation bacame very dense. There were epiphytes all over. Huge ones. And apparently we are in the
Middle of orchid season.
We got to agua calientes at around noon and boarded buses to the top. That was a crazy ride with steep switchbacks and narrow roads in the rain.
Carlos was our excellent guide. He was very knowledgable and answered all our questions. He spent almost three hours with us climbing all over the site.
Epiphyte. Tried to grow these at home. Failed!
Fountains everywhere.
A giant millipede. As long as my hand.
And of course llamas everywhere.
On the return trip we had an excellent dinner including duck confit. The train also had a great band on board for entertainment. All in all a great experience.
Will took better pictures. You'll have to see his post for more detail.











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