Machu Picchu - Bless you!!

I did it! I did the Inca trail so nur! Thats for the benefit of the ZILLIONS of backpackers who go "what, the proper inca trail? Who did you book it with eh? Hmm?" In a we-dont-believe-you kinda way. Thats because the flippin thing is booked up like two or more months in advance now and eager beaver me had booked it in March. But then its seems I have paid nearly double for the pleasure of sorting it in the UK so maybe you have to pay for certainty.

Anyway there isnt much to tell you - though that doesnt mean it wasnt fantastic. The scenery, Andes mountains, hard death climb to Dead Womans Pass and actually walking through the sun gate were all things I will remember for the rest of my life. I got me a stick (bamboo, its this smelly backpackers season must have) and looked the true intrepid traveller. But I'll keep the 'man, isnt life beautiful, think the world is so big and me so small' thoughts to my written diary...

Highlights
* the mountains, just jaw droppingly beautiful
* the company, forgotten is the annoying American from last year and is remembered six amazing americanos in his place
* the sun gate
* the 'I did it' factor
* spotting a condor flying above Machu Picchu
* the hot spas after smelling for 3 days

Lowlights
* the toilets (a plastic toilet in a tent, with a carrier bag to catch the contents. It stunk. I walked in and then walked out because I thought there must have been some sort of mistake)
* camping in the cold of a night in the mountains
* loosing my train ticket to get out of Aguas Calientes back to Cusco and costing me 40 bucks
* the insect bites - maddeningly itchy still. Want to rip my legs off
* the incident of the Crispy Shins

To clarify the last low light well the last day of the trek got very HOT. Clever me slapped on the suncream but failed to cover the exposed calfs n shins. Result was the worst case of sunburn anyone has ever seen EVER. Really sore. The kind that makes people screw up their faces and whistle. The kind that makes you feel guilty as well as sore. Sorry mum...

So since last friday Ive been in the drinking Black Hole that is Cusco. The hostel, Loki is 7 weeks old and is fast becoming legendary for it being run by friendly pissheads and taking in friendly pissheads. And then no one can leave. A guy called Darren has been here 3 weeks and he still hasnt seen Machu Pichu which he said was the only reason he came to South America. Thus there are many of us in the bar muttering '...fucking Cusco...' as we down another beer.

Better finish this off, gotter meet some people down the pub...