Cusco & Ollantaytambo
Trip Start
Nov 03, 2008
1
47
65
Trip End
May 2009
Cusco, Peru
Friday, February 27, 2009
Ollantayambo is a tiny village close to the Inka Trail, full of pre Inka ruins and people on their way to Machu Pichu. Had a 4 hr walk around the area, as a bit of practise in terms of breathing and I was shattered, however the amazing views made up for it.There is a cafe called Hearts that was set up by an English woman a few years ago, all proffits go to helping the villagers, who are very poor and their kids under fed. You can get a wicked hot chocolate and chunk of banoffee pie there and not feel at all guilty as your helping the locals . Mable : o )
Cusco is big, it is full of old bulidings with a very Spanish feel, Mac thinks it may be due to the fact that the Spanish invaded on the pretext of bringing God to the people... or maybe the Inkas had weapons of mass destruction.. whatever.. the facts are irrelivent, they did ,so there. Cobbled streets, massages offered on every corner and lots of outdoor gear shops for the stupid people who thought they could walk the Inka trail in flip-flops and a Borrat thong, pay those prices people ha ha. Mac was supprised that many more people donīt die from food poisoning here as none of the food to date in the cities has been served warmer than cold. The museum was good and well worth a visit.
After Cusco it was time for the short hop to Ollantaytambo to prepare for the hike. This was a very small village in the middle of no-where surrounded by Inka ruines. The local pub was pleased to see us as we bought most of thier stock of beer, you canīt beat getting smashed just before a long hike at high altitudes, it seemed a good idea at the time, we all blamed Alex! The funny thing was poor Zoe trapping herself in the mens toilet. Mac came to the rescue and pushed his pen knife under the door, Mable provided a lighter as the light inside was not working. "What am I supposed to do with this?" exclaimed a slighty panicked Zoe.... burn the door down was the unanimous answer! She eventually sussed it and used the lighter to provide light and prised the latch open with the knife... it was just having to emerge into the light with us all laughing was the hard bit. She didnīt use the gents toilet again. Mac was pleased to have a meal that was hot and Bonoffe pie and hot chocolate (itīs called power food) Rested, bags packed with toilet paper and power bars Mac was ready for the hike, it canīt be that hard can it? Mac
