Prep Day in Cusco

I woke up in Cusco and there are still a few little things to do today. But I am stopped in my hotel room, which unfortunately cannot be opened from the inside. Luckily my room faces the courtyard and the corridor, so I can climb out of the window and ask reception to open the door from the outside. I probably shouldn't lock it anymore. After an extremely good breakfast in the hotel, I walk a little way along the street and find a laundry so that my hiking gear is ready for the Inca Trail. I searched and found it, and then headed into the city. My hotel is right on Plaza San Pedro with the market of the same name next to it. There you can find everything from fruit, juices, meat, clothing, restobars. I let myself drift further towards the historic center and immediately notice that it is very hectic despite it being Sunday. On the street I am constantly approached and asked if I would like to book a tour or have a massage. I walk across Plaza Mayor towards San Blas; a small district on the hillside where there are a few small craft and souvenir shops. Here I also pass another "sight": the twelve-sided stone. Yes, that's right, I wanted to take a closer look at it and it really is what it is: a stone. It's kind of amusing to see the groups of tourists taking pictures with the stone. After the ups and downs in San Blas, I go back to the Plaza Mayor and sit down on the steps with a scoop of Lúcuma ice cream. My day continues like this, I keep walking around a bit and then sit down in a square to watch what's going on and the people.

Meanwhile, I'm already using the time to think about what I'll need for the Inca Trail and whether I have everything. And even though I've been reluctant to do it for a long time, today I've decided that it makes sense to invest in a pair of zip-up pants. I actually find what I'm looking for in the third outdoor shop and I'm partly proud and partly ashamed about it.

At 6 p.m. I arrive at the TreXperience office, where the briefing for the next few days is scheduled. We get an overview of the upcoming trail, the days, the camps, and a packing list that will help me in the evening. I also rent the trekking poles and sleeping bag. There is also the option of renting a thicker air mattress in addition to the included foam mattress, but I don't bother with that. With the empty duffel bag in my luggage, in which I am supposed to put my things for the camps, I pick up my laundry and then go back to the hotel to pack. I have 4 kg available in the duffel bag and 10 liters fit in my daypack. I've been wondering all day whether 10 liters would be enough for the daypack, since we're supposed to bring 2 liters of water. But I already had that information beforehand, and the hike is difficult enough at altitude, so I should keep it minimal during the day. I reach 3.8 kg in the duffel bag and can now eat dinner in peace. Since I'm being picked up at 4 o'clock, I decide to have pasta in the hotel instead of looking for something suitable in the city.

And so another day has passed and tomorrow the Inca Trail that I have been waiting for for so long finally starts. One last message to the family that I am now doing a four-day "digital detox" and then it's off to bed.