Dec 23: A little easier than the Spanish Conquistadors had it...

Another early start – we're not sure if we've hired tour guides or slave drivers. Our naseau had not worn off so we mostly pushed our breakfasts' around the plate rather than eat it. Today's target were the famous ruins of Machu Picchu. There are two main ways to get there:

1) A rugged four-day trek along the Inca Trail, carrying everything you need on your back, sleeping under the stars, and communing with spirits of the centuries of travelers who have gone this way before you; or...

2) A three-hour ride in a first-class train, enjoying a three-course meal, and getting pleasantly drunk like a spoiled, elitest snob

As the train cruised past the head of the Inca Trail, the maitre-de was kind enough to point it out for us. Andrew was almost bothered enough to pause eating his spinach and quinoa canneloni to take a picture. Almost.


Machu Picchu is every bit as good it looks in the pictures; better even. It resides among mountains that are among the most rugged and sheer we've ever seen, and almost every vantage point is picturesque. (Warning to anyone we show our photos to: there are a LOT of pictures from today.) Even better is the access: you can explore and climb around all areas of the ruins without limits; anything you've ever seen in a picture of this site is completely accessible while you're here. Sadly, our high standards were let down when we had to share our private tour guide with two other families for this leg – what is the world coming to?

Tonight we're staying at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, on top of the mountain and just a few dozen metres from the ruins. We've got a food and booze inclusive night in a room with a terrace overlooking the ruins.


We had a bottle of wine sent up to our room to drink on the terrace while catching up on blog postings. Life's rough – pity us.