Today we took a day trip to the mountains near Santiago.

Our guide picked us up at the hotel at 7:30 a.m. and we drove about 1 hour to the west. First, on paved roads – later on gravel roads.

Then we took out backpacks and hiked towards a mountain lake. On the way we were able to drink from mineral water fountains that just came out of the ground: Nice and refreshing!

Just enjoy the pictures… from our last full day in Chile / South America…

We are now back in Santiago.

Will take a one day trip to the mountains tomorrow.

And on Thursday our trip is finally over… ;-(

Last night we returned to Cusco and left today (at 4 a.m., again!) Cusco to Lima.

Spend one day in Lima. More to follow soon!

Last evening we arrived in Aguas Calientes – the city closest to Machu Picchu. Actually nothing but hotels and restaurants…

So we had dinner and went to bed – wake-up call was at 4 a.m.!!!

And so it happened: At 4 a.m. the alarm rang and we got up – still pitch dark outside. We had a very limited breakfast and walked through dark Aguas Calientes to the central plaza where we were supposed to meet our guide at 5:30 a.m.

Talking about the guide – when I was already asleep last night (about 8:30) somebody knocked on the door – it was our guide. Just to introduce himself and tell us where to meet him. I’m sure he was surprised to see me in my pyjamas…

Anyway: The guide and other tour participants appeared at 5:30 so we were ready for the bus to take us to Machu Picchu…

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machu_Picchu

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machu_Picchu

From here on I just upload some of my best pictures – words can not describe the beauty of the place…

  

There are many more – but I will close for today. We also hiked up the mountain peak in the background – exhausting but a beautiful view, too!

Today we got up early – to look at the terraces without the tourists – and what can I say:

It was perfect! Nobody (almost) except us, sunshine, just great.

  

The rest of the time we spend in the town – walked through it, twice (it is not very big). And waited for our train tickets… They were supposed to arrive at 10 a.m. at the hotel – and they did indeed arrive just a little later…

So we are ready to take the train today at 4 p.m. – and then the last part of our journey has begun: Machu Picchu and then back to Santiago…

Wish us good weather again – it worked last time (only two afternoons of rain in Puno).

Today we took our bus tour through the Sacred Valley, going to Ollantayambo:

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ollantaytambo

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ollantaytambo

It was quite impressive, but as we are going to Machu Picchu we did not take our “image tank” with us – so you have to wait for our pictures for a few days.

Unfortunately we arrived at the terraces at 3:30 p.m. when all the tourists in Peru were there. Nevertheless it was worth it – we had a nice guide, so we learned about the historical background. Tomorrow however, we will go there early in the morning and see how that is looking!

Off to a dinner, next.

As we have another day before leaving for Machu Picchu, we spend some time in and around Cusco today.

Close by, just an 1 hour walk, up steep steps, are the inca ruins of Sacsayhuamán.

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacsayhuam%C3%A1n

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacsayhuam%C3%A1n

And I think our pictures are a lot better then the once in Wikipedia, don’t you agree…

   

So these ruins are supposed to give us a first impression of what to expect in Machu Picchu!

After returning we had a very good lunch and did some more sight seeing in Cusco.

Now off to a nice dinner and tomorrow the last big tour of our journey starts…

So we want to go to Machu Picchu – and since visitors are limited, we needed to buy tickets. Well – something we did not consider enough was/is, that this is the week of Easter!

No train available to Machu Picchu on the days we planned! And we have a flight to Lima on Monday – so we needed to find alternatives:

Fortunately Henning suggested to the tour agent a combination of bus and train tour – and: Yes, he does have space available!

So we will stay another day in Cusco and leave by bus on Friday morning towards Machu Picchu – visiting the Urubamba Valley on the way. Our return to Cusco is planned for Sunday night – just 12 hours before our flight to Lima. Again, please wish us luck!

After buying our tickets for the journey, we explored Cusco toady.

Well, what can I write – it worked. No problems, whatsoever!

We got up, had breakfast, took a cab, arrived at the train-station, dropped off our backpacks and took our seats on the train. The guard at the gate didn’t even check our tickets/passports – she just said: “Welcome back!”

I could write much about this journey – how nice the food was, how beautiful the countryside. But pictures say more then 1000 words. So take a look yourself:

     

Yes, the train took us to Cusco:

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cusco

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cusco

We found our hostel and were given a 2+3 person room (family), since no other room was available – quite nice to have so much space. A nice bathroom with shower AND bathtub, too!

Since it was already 6:30 p.m. we just asked for some restaurant suggestions nearby and found a nice one with exceptionally good food.

So we were ready for a good night sleep, afterwards – and so we slept…

Finally our journey gets the South America tough! You ask why I write that…? Just read on…

It all happened on a beautiful, sunny Monday…

Fortunately we talked to our host the night before, so we knew that the train would not leave at 8 a.m., as scheduled, but already at 7 a.m. because of a strike in a nearby city. Luck, so far!

So we got up at 5:45 a.m. (! a time I NEVER get up!), had a shower and called a cab, to take us to the train station. We got there on time, bought our tickets, dropped off our backpacks and got into the train.

We waited. We waited some more… and more…

The clock turned 7… 5 past 7… and 10 past 7…

Now the speaker turned on and we hared the following announcement:

“Due to the strike the train will not leave today! You can get your tickets refunded or can use them tomorrow on the same train!”

There it was – finally – an unexpected turn!

So we got off the train, went into the station and tried to get the ticket reissued for tomorrow! Well, brave Henning, I can say:

It was almost impossible to get a new ticket or to get a refund. But of course Henning got it!

So here are the pictures of the train and our “almost journey”:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don’t laugh at the picture of me – yes, I have a sunburn!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, tomorrow we will get up early again and try just the same…

Wish us luck, please!

All we could do, was taking a cab back to the hostel and when the door was opened we just said: “Hi, we are back for another night!”