Day 24

Here I am in front of the train station at Ollantaytambo awaiting my train ride to Aguas Calientes. [[Special shout out to my little sister, Grace. I'm rockin the hydro-walk shirt!]]

Here I am about to board the Inca Rail and start my one and a half hour train ride to Aguas Calientes.

On our train ride, we experienced something...interesting. There was a fire on the side of the train track. My friends sitting next to me literally felt the heat and sparks as we passed by the fire. No biggie. 

Here I am in the pueblo of Machu Picchu heading over to our hotel, Gringo Bill's

Here I am at our hotel, Gringo Bill's. I haven't figured out if I should be offended by the name yet.

Here I am starting my hike up Mt. Putucusi.

Yes, this is basically a straight up ladder that we climbed during our Mt. Putucusi adventure. Think about the climb back down...

Here is another view from my hike up the mountain.

Finally, I have reached the top of the Mt. Putucusi!

Fun Fact: In Quechua, the native language of the Incans, "Putucusi" means "Happy Mountain"

Here is the sign at the top of the mountain - 2500 meters above sea level...that's roughly 8500 feet for all those who want that American conversion =)

From the top of the mountain, when you looked out into the 'short' distance you could see Machu Picchu. 

I must admit, it was somewhat surreal looking out into the distance and seeing such an astonishing view.

This picture doesn't do my view justice, but there it is, my view of Machu Picchu from the top of the mountain.

It took a group of 6 of us rougly an hour and twenty minutes to hike up Mount Putucusi. There were a few challenging parts, including a part where there was a giant metal wire mounted into the side of the mountain so that you could help yourself along a very slippery, unstable terrain. 

Here is a group of us that were some of the first to make it to the top.

Climbing up the mountain I was pretty winded at times due to the increase in altitude. To assist my breathing, I brought some cocoa candies. I consumed two on my way up - mind over matter!

Going down the mountain was a lot quick but not necessarily A LOT easier. It was challenging going backwards down those giant ladders.

Fun "Fact": We saw a native-looking man go down that GIANT ladder forwards. It was hard for us to even watch him. When he approached the bottom, we saw that he was wearing flip-flops. He showed all of us gringo's up. 

All-in-all 12 out of our group of 17 made it to the top, eventually. Go RU!

After our exhausting hike, we went back to our hotel, Gringo Bill's and showered. Then, dinner time. 

We walked around the pueblo a little bit and then found a cozy spot to eat called Los Andenes. I got a quesidilla with chicken and vegetables, some platanos maduros and chips and guac. A great dinner to fulfill my ravenous post-hike appetite. ;-)

The rest of my night was relaxing. We went to a lounge and just hung out for a little bit.

Then...bedtime at Gringo Bill's.

My room had three beds for my roommate, Estefania and I. There was one queen bed. Last night, I was the queen =)

What's next?

MACHU PICCHU!

Hasta luego mis amores.