Fin de Semana en Cuzco/Machu Picchu

Wow! I am still in shock that we actually saw Machu Picchu. This picture is the classic shot that everyone took. We were quite tired at this point, having climbed a great height to get to this view, but obviously it was well worth it. I still feel like Mark and I were photo-shopped into this picture, it looks so unreal.

Anyways, I arrived in Cuzco on Friday morning. Mark had been there since Wednesday morning for work. I rested almost as soon as I got to the hotel for fear of altitude sickness. I also drank maté de coca which is just tea with coca leaves. It's supposed to help with any altitude side effects. I had a little bit of a headache but other than that I felt fine. We got up really early Saturday morning (5am) to eat breakfast and catch the train to MP, before 7. The train ride was four hours and had beautiful view but cramped leg room. The train goes to a little pueblo outside MP called Agues Calientes. It's a place where many people can overnight and walk to MP in the morning before the tourists on the train (like me) show up. It's something I might consider doing next time just to get a different feel for things. From Aguas Calientes (literally, "hot springs"), we boarded a little bus that took us winding up a mountain towards the lost city of the Inkas. It was pretty incredible. Then once you arrive, you're just in awe for the whole tour. Our group (Mark and I, and some other of Mark's colleagues from Guatemala) had a tour guide who was awesome. He's from Cuzco, gives tours of MP a few times a week, and hikes the Inca Trail once a month. Living the good life perhaps. Our tour was totally en español but I understood a good deal of it, and since the guide spoke English he was able to help me clarifies my gaps in understanding. After MP, it was back on the bus then the train, to finally arrive back at the hotel close to 9pm.

On Sunday, Mark and I breezed through Cuzco looking at the sights and and exploring some cool barrios. We found a great hostel for my next trip there, when Beth comes to visit in July. It was founded by a dutch guy and most of its profits go to local children living in poverty. It's called Niños Hotel. Don't worry Beth, if you are reading, I am starting to plan our trip. It's gonna rock.

Well, that's all to write for now. Mark and I are trying to finally get into a routine this week since last week he had a big conference for work and was at the office a lot. It's time to really start digging into Lima!

It's exciting. Last week I met a friend of my recently new roommate in DC and we hit it off. Looks like I won't be friendless after all! I went to an Intercambio today and met some folks who want to practice English with me and I can practice Spanish with them. Pretty good exchange. AND, last but not least, I took my first 'combi' which is like a matatu for thos of you who have visited Kenya. It's a 16 psngr van where about 20 ppl squeeze in and pay like 50 cents for a ride. Exhilarating, right? Hope to hear from all of you soon. Hasta pronto!
p.s. Trying to post the rest of the MP pics soon.