Tuesday 14 Feb 2012 Valentines Day  & Aguas Calientes

Up at 04:00 for a 05:00 departure by bus to the Cuzco railway station.  An interesting day was to unfold as the railway line to Machue Picchu and Poroy was blocked by landslides after extremely heavy rain falls.  The train was supposed to leave at 07:40 but in the end we had to take a bus at 08:30 which delivered us to a station near Ollantaytambo at 09:50.  The countryside is magnificent with massive mountains rising to 6000m+ and covered in snow.  At Ollantaytambo we waited in a small restaurant so we didn´t have to stand outside until 13:25 before we finally knew if our train was running that day.  There was a lot of grumbling from many travellers and some decided to return to Cuzco, however our patience paid off. While we waited we befriended a Brazillian and his daughter and chatted away the hours with them.  The train trip was well worth the wait and in clear weather, but was partially spoilt by an East European traveller who believed that he was the only person entitled to stand near the front window to take photos. Then to add to the annoyance there was a group of Japanese tourists who did not stop chattering like a flock of birds for the entire time and their guide who thought that the entire carriage was interested in his Japanese rhetoric. The railwayline followed the flooded river, which is a tributary/ or begining of the Amazon, and provided magnificent views.  The cliff faces rise straight out of the river and tower hundreds of meters above the valley. Arrived at Aquas Calientes (Hot Springs) at 15:10.  Our hotel the Inkaterra Machu Picchu is magnificent, set in native forrest surrounds, with shop, restaurant, spas, saunas and rooms in separate bungalows to die for.  This was luxury plus.  During the afternoon we met a Dutch biochemist and his Thai wife who were travelling the world until September in search of a nice country to retire too.  That evening i had Guinea pig for dinner.  Not much meat on the little fellas, about equivalent to four slices of ham.  To bed at 22:00 for big day again tomorrow.

PS  I had to wish Malcolm a Happy Valentines Day from his wife Lindy!!!  A bit novel.  :-)