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Ten Degrees and Getting Colder

  Cold Sunrise   That's just the name of the song written by Gordon Lightfoot.  It was actually -13 F when I got up this morning (wind chill -24).  Tucson may have pulled back into the lead!  There's a lot of weighing pros and cons of Colorado vs Arizona by the wood stove.  Not much else to report. I did enjoy a few games of pool and a beer with my brother this week.  We don't get together very often, so it's good to try to keep the lines of communication open, especially with my mother celebrating her 86th birthday next month.  He lives in Milwaukee and just started semi-retirement.  Our opposing politics and lifestyles keep things very casual and surface-level.  Not that there's anything wrong with that.   It's important to find common ground.  He and his wife have started going to concerts and recently saw the Steve Miller Band.  Music is one of our common interests.      
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Machupicchu Pueblo

 


 We took a short bus ride from Machu Picchu to the small town of Machupicchu Pueblo.  From here, the train would take us back to Cusco.  But first it was time for a beer.  Never mind that it was only 10 a.m. Time is an abstract concept.


Our fellow hikers, G and P, headed off to nearby Aguas Caliente, a nearby hot springs.  Julia and I toured the town.  Julia had been looking for condors during the entire hike, but we didn't see one until we got to town.  The guys on top at Dead Woman's Pass said that we had just missed one.


 

As you might expect, the town is very touristy, being the gateway to Machu Picchu.  However,  the natural setting is spectacular.


 

We met for a late lunch with G, P, and Freddy.  I really enjoyed this time for relaxed socializing.  Freddy was much less formal--now that the hike was over, and he didn't have to worry about our well-being.  He shared some good stories, including the time that some guests invited him to participate in an Ayahuasca ceremony.

Eventually, it was time for us to catch our afternoon train.  Freddy got a well-earned tip from the four of us.  There were lots of enthusiastic hugs and handshakes.  

The train was comfortable.  We enjoyed the scenery through the windows while it was still daylight.   When darkness came, we passed time with a Portuguese couple sitting opposite to us.  The ice was broken in an unusual way. 

 They had also completed the Inca Trail but as part of their honeymoon. During the train trip, her engagement ring had slipped off her finger to the floor.  We all got down on our hands and knees to search.  Julia came up with the big rock. They were a delightful couple, sharing stories about Portugal and asking us lots of questions about America.

 

Masks required on trains
 

The train arrived late to Cusco.  Our tour company rep was waiting with a van to take us to our hotel.  We stayed up to take long showers but quickly fell to sleep afterwards. The next day would be a free day on our own, and then it would be time to fly back to Lima.

 

 

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MFH said…
I missed something...Do you descend by a differnt route? It sounds as if it's a three or three and a half days hike up and only one down?
December 11, 2022 at 6:46 PM
John said…
You're exactly right on the time line: about 3 1/2 days of hiking.

It's all up to Dead Woman's Pass and then it's mostly down (a few temporary ups) for the rest of the way.

https://brewedjourney.blogspot.com/2022/11/inca-trail-into-clouds.html

There's an elevation map in the second pic on the above 11/14 post. Machu Picchu is at a lower elevation than the start of the trail.
December 11, 2022 at 7:03 PM
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