Leave every stone unturned

Last night we went clubbing. Marilyn woke me at about 1am and said we better go home. She was still dancing. That was after doing the 4 day Inka trail and getting up at 4am.


When we were researching the trail a number of people had written that it was one of the best things they have done in their lifes. We agree. Machu Picchu is magical. It is massive site, beautifuly built out of carved stone blocks. So much care had gone into its contruction that it was obviously very important but no one really knows its purpose or why it was abandoned. You can sit in the a temple loooking up at the 4 stangly shaped mountains that surround the site and down into deep valleys. One minute everything is totally clear. The next cloud sweeps into the valleys creating white seas and eventually billowing up until it envelopes you and the whole of MP. 10 minutes later its all clear again. We spent the whole day there and didnt want to move. Today we both feel emotional whenever we think about it and wish we were back.

Go soon because its slipping down the mountain and in future you may only able to see it by flying over the site

The trek is very hard. Climbing up 1800m to 4200m. The climb and altidude are killing but worst of all is the 3 hours decents down Inka stairs. While we are crawling along, gasping for breath our porters would literaly run past us with all the gear on their backs including full size gas bottles. When you get to the next camp your tents are erected ready for you. A kitchen is on the go next to the dining tent and within a few minutes they are serving up a really good three course dinner.

If you need a crap on the trail you have to try and dig a shallow hole, shit, cover it with grass and then put a stone on it. Dont pick up stones without taking great care

When you leave MP you get a bus down the mountain to the nearest town. A local kid dressed up as an Inka races the bus to each corner and shouts goodbye. Then at the bottom he gets on the bus and collects tips. It takes ordinary people an hour and half to do the same distance. Its a fitting end to a magical trip.



Marilyn and Jude in their ´I survived the Inka Trail´ tee shirts.


Next stop Bolivia