Tuesday 18th April 2017
Macchu Pichu – Ollantaytambo – Cusco
We could have woken at 4am and travelled up to Machu Picchu
for the sunrise. The four of us decided against in favour for a lie-in! We had made the right decision, it was
overcast and rainy. Collected by Walter
at 9am for a transfer on the shuttle bus up to the site. He took us around the temples, plazas,
palaces, watercourses and residential
areas. 
I particularly liked the two circular bowls hewn out of granite and filled with water that
were positioned precisely on a north/south line position. They were almost certainly used to view the
stars/planets as a reflection in the water. 
Also
the sun dials at the very top of the complex.
Unfortunately the weather was overcast/rainy which somewhat reduced the
photo taking. 
Walter left us after about
3 hours and we also made tracks to get back on the shuttle bus through the
queues. We had a quick walk around the
town, ate a hamburger lunch and then collected our bags from hotel to get to
the railway station (through a mad indoor market). 
We boarded the Vistadrome Train to return to
Ollantaytambo station and settled in for a quiet scenic journey. Waiters
provided drinks and a light pizza type snack which was very pleasant. We were a little surprised when a masked man
in full regalia started dancing down the aisles, then followed by a fashion
show with the waiters wearing various designs of alpaca clothing! Not like British Rail at all !! Good fun, and all the carriage joined in with
heckling and clapping. 
Once at
Ollantaytambo, we easily found our Perurail bimodal bas to Wanchaq in Cusco,
and slept most of the way. We were then collected and transferred to Los Andes
de America Hotel in Cusco. Arrived late
and were sorting out our mess, when Ed and Jude arrived with wine and helped debrief
us. Great timing. Wine was needed and lovely to see them again.
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