More in Ollantaytambo
Our last day in Ollantaytambo was slow--giving us time to take in this unique village that has many parts much like it was when the Inca's designed it. We spent time in the local markets filled with everything from alpaca sweaters to skinned bull heads complete with eyeballs. Jane played Ring around the Rosie with three little ones, counted jumps to 53 to a young girl jump roping and of course, handed out more balloons. We followed a path the locals take along the river as Bob & Rog examined their fields. It started to rain in the afternoon which gave us an excuse to play some bridge...Bob & Elsi have been teaching us...usually we only play a few hands but the rain encouraged us to play several hands. We made a meal of various things we'd packed and hit the sack early.
Train to Aguas Caliente
Two moto taxis (motorcycle with a buggy attached) picked us up & off we went to the train station. While waiting in line to get on, Bob noticed a man with a Michigan sweatshirt on so he let out a "GO BLUE!" The man turned around only to tell us he was from Australia...meantime a woman asked us if we were from Ann Arbor. Replying that we were from Dexter, she said, "No way--my brother lives in Dexter!--David Laird." Of course, we all knew David and now we know his sister, Susan. Soon we were chugging along as the train followed the muddy, tumultuous Rio Urabamba between the massive peaks that poked through the clouds. Two hours of spectacular views around every bend.
Aguas Caliente
Plenty of aqua but just a little caliente (cold). It was pouring when we arrived and dragged our luggage up the hill to our hotel--no motor vehicles in town. In a short time, we dried out & the rain stopped so we ventured out to check out this very touristy village filled with people speaking so many languages & wearing a wide variety of outfits. We lucked out on selecting a great restaurant for dinner. Jane had stuffed potatoes (safe bet), Bob-garlic trout, Elsi-garlic chicken and Rog-always the adventures one--a Peruvian dish called ceviche (cold raw trout with onions, sweet potatoes & very hot peppers.) Our guide for tomorrow's BIG day met us at our hotel to pin down plans...things were not as we'd thought we had set us with the travel agent in Cusco so there was a rather long and unpleasant phone call but in the end, we got what we had been told we would--a private, two hour guide. It's only 9 p.m. but we're all in bed (me with Bob's laptop)...excited to rise at 4 a.m. to board the bus to Machu Picchu!
