Inka trail part 3, Machu Pichu time!

Waking up super early at 4.30am, we strapped on head torches and went on the shortest trek so far, a whole 5 minutes. No seriously! The reason........the gates for the final trek to Machu Pichu open at 5.30 and everyone wants to get there early to get in line so you can set off first so you can get the best photos with no tourists in it.

With an hour to kill we got a shot of the valley once again swallowed by cloud....

.....and struggled to play cards in the dark with our head lamps.

Finally 5.30 came around and we were on the last leg of the trek which was only 2 hours or so which seemed like a doddle to us after 3 days of trekking! Coming across what were known as the monkey steps, because they were steep and really large steps so people scrambled up them, I did exactly that and scrambled up them on hands and feet as quick as I could.

A short trek later and we had reached Intipunku, the Sun Gate. No idea why it was called that but it was pretty cool. But we weren`t interested in the Sun Gate itself, placed on top of moutain, reaching it was the first time you got a view of Machu Pichu itself, the whole reason why we had come here! So the Sun Gate itself got little attention!

After literally sitting back speechless and just taking in the view, we finally decided to start pissing about again and got a stupid photo of us taken by Lindsay. I mention the photography as it took her ages to line this photo up. After her telling me "left a bit", "A little less" etc etc, I finally informed her that it might be easier for her to move the camera instead! Unfortunately when we first got there the old cloud forest was getting in the way and we had to find the right time to get some snaps in gaps of cloud.

Again it was team photo time as we were at a momentous point, with this time all 16 of us getting in the photo for the first time! Told you there were 16.

With the cloud parting we got a photo of the whole site, which is supposedly shaped like a condor, an animal which they deemed sacred.

After viewing it from afar, it was time to actually go and greet what we had set out to, and with a short walk we came across this site which they think was a sacrificial place.

Another short walk and we were actually starring face to face with Machu Pichu (not that it has a face!). We were finally here.

And with unsurpisingly non tired legs (maybe it was the excitement or adrenaline) we took our final triumphant stroll onto a ledge and got another group shot, unsurprisingly with 1 person missing.

Strangely, when you take on the Inka trail to get to Machu Pichu, you walk straight into the site, and due to tickets etc, you then have to walk out to the ticket entrance and then walk back through again! The ticket entrance isn`t located where we entered as there are far more lazy people who take the train option on the other side where they monitor entrance. So off we went to come back in with the girls marking the end of the trek by throwing away their walking poles which definately warranted a photo!

Being me, I had purchased a beer on day 2 and took it with me to Machu Pichu just so I could claim I had a beer there. Cracking it out and about to take a glorious well earned sip, the douche bag bloke told me I couldn`t drink it, so annoyingly I put it away.......only to find a place around the corner where no officials were and cracked it out! hahahahahahaha.

Jen got in on the action too, as did Lindsay and an Irish bloke in our group who I knew had been killing for a beer so I got him in on the action. I´ve not seen a bloke more grateful in a long time! So there we were, enjoying a cold beer in the grounds of Machu Pichu whilst our guide told us about the history of the place.

After some info from the guide, we were set free to roam about, taking in the sights, which I don`t really have to tell you, were simply amazing.

With the sun coming out to play and the clouds parting, the grass was illuminated as green as could be, making the whole experience that little more special.

And what sight would be complete without a panoramic picuture!

I forgot to mention that when you do the actual original Inka trail, you pass through 4 control points and get a cool stamp at each, which you only get by doing the original trail. So if you see someone with only one in their passport, they took the train up!

Another view of it....just because!

We were shown around for just 20 minutes by the guide before being set free so he could explain a few things. Like this sacred rock which is supposed to look like a guinnea pig. I´ve told you a few times that you have to use your imagination!

Roaming around we explored the different areas and houses etc of the complex. Time for some more silly photos of course.

....and how many people can claim that they have done a roley poley in Machu Pichu? I bloody can. 1-0 Rogers. Well actually 2-0 Rogers after the cheeky beer.

They also had bits of stone hanging out from buildings which we were told were for hanging ornaments, so I decided to be one of those ornaments. 3-0 Rogers.

After looking around the ore inspiring Inkan town, we set back off to catch the bus back down to the neighbouring town of Aguas Calientes of "Hot Water". It couldn`t have been more ironically named when we got there. We found the restuarant where we would meet for lunch and the second we sat down it absolutely pissed it down and was freezing. But we did stop for lunch where we had an awesome pizza and well deserved liter of beer! This photo is from the restuarant and you can just about make out the rain! Wasn`t much fun seeing as my 12.50 pound jacket now had no zip so I had to walk around clutching my jacket together.

Luckily the rain held up for a bit and we went out to the local market and bought some stuff, followed by a walk around the town, the pinnacle of which was a statue of this Inkan dude, but still not quite as impressive as what we had just seen.

All in all, one of the greatest experiences of my life and I would reccommend to anyone. It does however give you a sense of achievement leading to Jen to agree to take on the 3 peaks back in the UK which she now massively regrets!

And finally, fair play to Jane, who did the whole Inka 4 day trek with soles which weren`t attached to her boots other than some flimsy tape, and she only rocked up a few days before to an altitude trek. We had become aclimatised so found it a bit easier but I know the feeling of trekking at altitude without being alcimatised, it ain`t easy! So fair play!