Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu

I'm sure those of you who have been to Peru are wondering why Cusco doesn't follow Arequipa at this point. The thing is, Mom decided to spend a transit night in Cusco first. The flight with Peruvian Airlines was okay. I know that some of you are probably googling this airline right now and shaking your heads. Don't worry! New Boeing 737 engines coupled with seats from the 2000s and the rest of the interior from the 80s? I'm just saying: big, rectangular orange-yellow service button ;-p. And in the end, they all come down safely. The flight attendants themselves were rather cool and strict. Completely justified! After the announcement was made three times already that mobile phones should be turned off, the ladies went through the rows at least five more times to persuade even the last Peruvian to end their conversation with Mom. I wouldn't be surprised if they were also carrying a bag that every stubborn person has to throw their phone into. "When leaving the plane, you have the chance to win a new mobile phone in our lottery, or you can leave completely empty-handed."

Pay attention: The flight from Arequipa to Cusco is announced with the destination Lima. The flight only lands briefly in Cusco in between. I almost missed the flight because I got caught up in a conversation with a French woman and a British woman and we were only focused on "Cusco".

From Cusco, it went directly to Hydroelectrica the next morning at 7 o'clock. 6 1/2 hours of travel through breathtaking scenery. 6 1/2 hours of travel with the backrest of the person in front of me against my chest. When I asked her not to lean back completely, I received a bewildered look from the good Peruvian. It's not like I didn't speak to her in Spanish. Oh well, my dear, we Central Europeans are usually not half a meter tall with legs too short. But please, have 6 1/2 hours with at least one knee in your back. At the latest when the bus left the paved road, she realized she regretted it. Hehehehehe!!! By the way, unpaved road: 2 hours of travel on the Peruvian death road. On the left, the abyss without guardrails, on the right, the rocks. Juuuhuuuuu!!! That's how I like it!!!

Arriving in Hydroelectrica, our bus driver gave us one final briefing: "In that direction, always along the tracks. After two to three hours, you will be in Aguas Calientes. What does your pulse say? Low? Good! It will stay that way. If you are not there by 16:30 o'clock, then your pulse is allowed to rise decently."

So Mom shouldered her 15kg suitcase plus 4kg beauty case and off she went. Always along the tracks. By the way, when you hear the Tschu-Tschu, you should not be standing on one of the short bridges that consist only of sleepers and rails. The train arrives relatively quickly. But I'm a professional. You can pass by small restaurants and bars along the tracks. The landscape is stunningly beautiful. By the way, I covered the 10km distance in two hours with photo breaks and almost 20kg of luggage. The cross trainer paid off once again.

Once arrived in Aguas Calientes, I had to search for my hotel a bit. Yes, I treated myself to a bit of privacy. It's also necessary sometimes. After all, you don't want to constantly hear the farting of the most heterosexual men in the world.

At this point: Dear men, that's not manly, but rather disgusting for everyone else in the room. So please, clench your sphincter in the dorm!!! In case of flatulent incontinence, a plug can also help!

Aguas Calientes is a small village, beautifully located. Of course, full of tourists, because anyone who wants to visit Machu Picchu has to stay here. Accordingly, the prices there are also high.

A day of rest was planned and much needed before I would climb Machu Picchu. Because, what diarrhea is to one person, a cold is to Mom. So I explored Aguas Calientes for a little while, max. one hour, and picked up my Machu Picchu ticket. As I noticed, I didn't book the morning tour, but accidentally booked the one in the afternoon. But that should be fine with me.

Because:

1. Getting up very early with a cold sucks.

2. According to my weather observations, the weather was always better from noon onwards.

And so it should be. The next day, starting at 11 o'clock, one hour of ascent over 2000 steps. You could also take the bus. But it's definitely worth going on foot for the view. And to quote a good friend: "It has more value when you have accomplished it through your own effort." Right! And it's also more fun. Just like the way to Aguas Calientes. And some sweat and snot had to be sacrificed to Pachamama to have a good day. If you sweat a lot, you should bring spare clothes. When you reach the top, you're soaking wet. The old Inca site is huge, breathtaking, and takes you back in time to the era of the Incas if you let it.

Thanks to the cold, the day with ascent and descent, as well as the visit, was a bit more exhausting than expected. So it was time to immerse myself in the hot springs and let my body, mind, and soul come to rest. With cocktail service at the edge of the pool and a starry sky for those who like it.

Tomorrow morning, it's off to Ollantaytambo with the Incarail and then by bus back to Cusco.

So always keep the backrest in an upright position and keep the air clean.

Have Fun & Be Proud!

Your Jan/Mom