Happy Birthday to sister Lizzy. 🙂
This morning, while we had hotel wifi, I logged into YouTube to see what was happening in Barcelona and the yacht racing.
Breakfast was another lavish spread of options. It really is an excellent hotel. Staff are friendly and courteous and the facilities are immaculate and stylish. We were late getting to breakfast and missed the motorcyclists, who were outside preparing their bikes to leave.
Our destination today is Ollantaytambo about 60k’s north east. It’s a stepping stone to getting to Machu Picchu. Incidentally, it seems the spelling of Cusco has changed from Cuzco, though many maps and media still use the old name.
Daughter Sarah suggested we should be showing a graphic of our route. I completely agree, so while it’s not as detailed as we will later try and include, here is an updated photo of what we have completed, from the side of Poki.
We’ll see if we can photograph our paper map to be a little more detailed.
Leaving Cusco
Our sat-nav took us on a lesser road today and we loved it. Getting out of Cusco was chaotic as South American cities are. Once on the lesser road there was less traffic, but more potholes.
The last 2k’s to our present campsite was on a very rough unsealed, dusty track. Our campsite though, is a delight. We are halfway down a valley with snow covered mountains at the end. We are the only campers here and have a lovely flat springy grassed area. A big river is about 50m away but the banks is steep and little chance of flooding…:) We had set up camp by 12noon.
Jen was straight into washing mode. Dirty clothes have been building up. There is plenty of clean water here, so the situation is perfect.
While she is doing that, I decided it was time to change the oil. We bought 2x4L of oil a week or so ago but have not had the right environment, or time to do it. We had also been carrying around an empty 7L water bottle for the task of containing the old oil.
Back to getting to Machu Picchu.
After the washing was done and bought in, it dried in minutes with warm wind and sunshine, Jen got onto booking train tickets for tomorrow. That was done easily enough but trouble is, we had to walk back 2k’s to the station to collect them before the morning. We are booked on a 7.45am train to Aquas Calientes, the closest station to Machu Picchu, and rail is the only way to get there. Setting off to walk the 2k a Tuk Tuk came by and picked us up, and after getting the printed tickets, took us back to the camp again. He’s going to collect us at 7am in the morning.
It’s all falling into place. What we were told could not be done, is being done, so far. If we are not successful in getting tickets Machu Picchu, we will have enjoyed the train ride., and everything else that happens. The plan is to purchase the tickets tomorrow, then take a hotel room for entry into the site the next day. The hour and a half long train ride cost US$74 one way, for two. Mind you if we travelled with Belmond Travel, on the Hiram Bingham train, it would only cost US$500 each!!! We are slumming it…:) The whole M.P. thing, is a well oiled money machine.
We may not post a blog for the next couple days, as we are limited to carrying 5kg in our back packs!!!! So computers will give way to clothes and tooth brushes, for whatever we face.
Sport.
America’s Cup. 6 – 2 to Team NZ.
Cricket.
Black caps skittled India for 46 in their first innings and replied with 402. India are 231-3 in reply. Dare we dream?
Womans T20. NZ beat West Indies by 8 runs to be in the final to play South Africa. Well done girls!
Views: 62