Dias 11
Trip Start
Jun 29, 2008
1
4
9
Trip End
Aug 05, 2008
Ollantaytambo, Sacred Valley, Peru
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Anyway, the adventure began at 4 30 AM in Cusco. Our guides came and woke us up, rushed us into a large bus that somehow handled the small streets, picked up the rest of the group and we headed out. Driving to our starting point in the hike was a bit of a daze. Drifting in and out of sleep, occasionally looking out the window and seeing the cliff edge near the bus through a wall of fog seems more of a dream at this point. We finally arrived at our site and ate a nice breakfast. After ten minutes of hiking the cold that had brought us all feet from the fire that morning was gone and sweat was pouring down our faces. Megan got really sick and was forced to climb down the mountain. We caught a taxi that was really more of a dirt bike with a carriage built around it. Then a bus where we ended up in Ollantaytambo. It is a very small town surrounded by Inca sites, with a large plaza in its center. We found a nice hostel to stay at until the day came where we would meet up with our guides and head to Machu. The first day was mainly catching our breath. The following days were more interesting. Yesterday and the day before a strike in what I believe was all of Peru was taking place. Protesters angry at rising prices chanted around the city. They came when we were eating lunch. Our host came inside and closed all the doors as the chanting grew louder. Apparently no shops were supposed to be open or else that would signal that they do not support the protest. The door was kept closed until they left. The french family who was sharing our restaurant would not let their child go near the window. I´m sure there was not actual danger, just a little excitement. The next day the same thing happened in a different restaurant. The place we were the day before had a bunch of tourists eating outside and the owner was forced to rush them all in before the protesters got there. Our host spoke English very well and explained that people were angry that the prices of everything was rising. I complemented his English and he replied, "I lived in Toronto." That same day we were supposed to meet up with our group and guides at the plaza at 4 30. They never showed, and here we are. We are going to find a taxi to Cusco and continue our trip there.
Chris and Megan
