Agony at Aguas Calientes

Spent the day hobbling around Aguas Calientes – the town at the base of Machu Picchu (its called Machu Picchi Pueblo nowadays). It’s a little tourist town set amidst towering mountains…The train ride (you can either walk or take a train to MP – there’s no bus from Cusco) was very interesting – Cusco is in a narrow valley surrounded by steep mountainsides; so the only way the train could climb out of the valley was through a series of switchbacks i.e. it reverses, goes forward, reverses, goes forward etc. – on the same mountainside; to gain height. So we saw Cusco progressively becoming smaller as we climbed higher and higher until the condor shape was very apparent (you don’t need a lot of imagination to get this one!).

The 4 hour ride was pleasant enough – although a bit cramped (I was travelling Backpacker Class after all!). Aguas Calientes despite the random construction, has its own frontier town charm. The setting itself is spectacular – huge lush mountains surround the 2kmX2km that is Aguas Calientes. Add mountain rivers that thunder by; clouds that often descend quite low and the occasional misty rain -and it makes the place rather atmospheric. Not to mention the massive statue of Manco Capac – the first Inka emperor in the central plaza. Desultory afternoon in AC – the only highlight being my first Inka Cola, La Bebida de Peru. Unfortunately it was swallowed up by the Coca-Cola Company a few years ago...It’s a bilious yellow colour but quite fizzy and sweet.

Gingerly tested my leg – and it certainly wasn’t looking good but as they say, tomorrow is another day!