Inca Trail, 1

The Inca Trail, which Vicki wanted to walk on, is so fragile and crowded that the government now requires hikers to have guides. No guide, no Inca Trail. Not even a single step. The guide service she found, Llama Path, provides a two-day Inca Trail experience, culminating at Machu Picchu. just what we wanted. Thus, on March 10th-11th, they got us to the trail, provided a nice English-speaking guide, Charlie, and, over a day's relatively rough walk in the cloud forest, got us to Machu Picchu. Next day, Charlie gave us the Machu Picchu tour and then saw us back to our train/bus return to Cusco. Oh yes, a night in a nice hotel and several meals were included. We were quite pleased, overall. Trekking with a nice room at the end of the day, hot showers, and restaurant food and drink, is the way to go.

Alas, the day of the trip, they pick you up at 5AM at your
hotel in Cusco for a thrilling ride over the passes, in the dark,
at warp factor 6.5; more coca tea, por favor

Lower slopes of Veronica, an 18,000-footer in the vicinity

At Ollentantamby--to which we would return in a few days--
we boarded the train to Machu Picchhu

But got off at kilometer post 104

The other nice thing about trekking with
hotels and restaurants is you don't have to
carry back-breaking backpacks

Foot bridge over the Urubamba, a big river--more about which--
a major tributary to the Amazon

Obligatory shot of Vicki crossing; not nearly
as exciting without the prayer flags, zopkios,
etc.

But the Urubamba turned out to be quite as exciting as the
Dudh Kosi; and then some

Ruins near the guard station; we'd barely set foot on the Trail
when the rain began; and it continued until after Winnie
Winona, that is, well after lunch

A highlight of walking through the cloud
forest is all the vegetation--here, some exotic
rot and corruption--but also many varieties of
orchids, bromeliads, and other exotics

The sacred power lines, bringing mystical energy to Machu
Picchu, are never out of sight

Cloud forest scene; I was pretty fascinated by it all

Tiny orchids

Exotic rot and corruption; ick

Charlie mostly stayed by Vicki but kept close track of me;
lagging behind, under the pretense of taking pix...

On the Camino Inka

Beautiful huge bromeliads

The trail, rising to meet Winnie Winona, in the distance

Thus

A mini Machu Picchu, some say

Lowest terraces

Train-spotting

OK, it's Winay Wayna, not Winnie Winona

Strolling through Winay Wayna, in the rain