​Conquering The World
​​​by Tomas Cironis
Cusco - 2015
Finally it's here, the most expected trip to one of the new 7 wonders of the world, the famous iconic Inca city, Machu Picchu. It's one of the reason why I decided to go to South America. But sometimes the journey itself is the most important part of travelling. Or atleast this time it was.
Few weeks ago we went to almost every Tourist agencies in Arequipa to check the prices etc. I chose to go with Agency to Colca Canyon because it's to dangerous to go alone there. Also we were able to get really cheap price for that trip, 85 soles, which included guied, all the food, transportaiton and 1 night in Oasis in the middle of the Canyon. Totally worth the money. But it was different with Cusco, the cheapest we found was for 750 soles (first agency told us 500 dollars just btw.), which was too expensive. So we decide to go on our own.
When I got to the Bus Station, of course I was there first one and only one right on time. I should be next time late, maybe... You know to be "in", to follow "mainstream", to "adapt in this enviroment"....
Anyway, when others arrived, Edmundo found out that we need another small ticket to be allowed to go in the Bus. I've never heard about this small tickets before and I still don't know how they works or who checks them, honestly. But we went to buy them few minutes before Bus departure. It cost 2 soles per person.
It took us almost 11 hours to get to Cusco. During the night it was so freezing that I couldn't even fall asleep. And same cold was in the morning in Cusco. But we found quickly the transportation to Hidroelectrica so we didn't have to wait and got on the way again.
Cusco 2015
The Combi was for another 8 hours. We stopped for lunch in Saint Teresa village where was buffet for 15 soles and you could eat everything. I think I ate 4 or 5 plates so I didn't make the restaurant much money. Then we headed to the famous canyon which was even in the TV show Top Gear for example. It's the one where you go few centrimeters from the edge of the road and then there is three of four hundred meters down fall to the river in the canyon. The "road" is very thin, only for one car but there was so much traffic. We had a five centimeters on the right to the next combi and five centimeters on the left to the edge of the road. Really dangerous.
When we arrived to Hidroelectrira there were still atleast 3 hours of walking ahead of us. We needed to got to the Agua Callientes (Machu Picchu pueblo). There was the famous train, called Hiram Bingham (after the explorer who rediscover the Machu Picchu), which could take you to the pueblo directly but it was for 28 dollar cheapest ticket.
Our group had 12 members which made me little bit affraid. We got to Hidroelectrica around 4pm and we left around 4:15. There was 3 hours of walking and we got few really slow amigos so I was afraid to got to the Agua Calliantes before the sun set because then it gets dark and really cold. And we had to walk through the rainforrest.
Even I was suprised how soon the sun sets there. Around 6pm there was no light and we had to use flashlights on our cell phones to see which way we need to go.
"We're stuck in the middle of peruvian jungle"
Our situation was getting worst and worst. Me, Edmundo and Rike were really fast so we had to stop very often and wait for others which was quite exhausting. So we decided to split up. I had all the information necessary for our Hostel so me and Rike we decided to don't stop anymore and go directly to the pueblo find our Hostel. We got there around 7:30 pm and it took us more half an hour to find the Hostel. And what a surprise, our hostel was out of order. There was a woman in the reception who didn't take a care about us so I made her to call the Boss of the Hostel to solve our situation. It wasn't fun at all because few weeks ago when I made the booking, was almost everythnig booked out. It was Peru National Day this week so almost everobody was heading to Machu Picchu. And we hadn't place to sleep. It couldn't be that big issue if there would be only 3 or 4 of us, but 12 guys ? I was trying to looked cool and told everyone that we're gonna find something, to don't worry, but honestly, I wasn't so convienced.
I took Edmundo with me, because he speaks spanish and is really good in negotiating, and we went to the downtown to find some Hostel. It didn't take so long and we found I think the only one free Hostel here. It was very bad building and dirty place but atleast it was warm and there was somthing like a shower. We bargained the price with the Lady Boss of the Hostel and then went for the others.
Eventhough the Lady was smiling and looked like magic grandma from some fairytale, she was completely opossite. She waited till we got into the Hostel and then started that she doesn't have enough room for all of us so 8 of us have to sleep in only 3 beds and other 4 in 2 beds. I of course disagree so she went to one of the rooms and sent guests away (it was almost 10pm!!) to make room for us. But then she dobbled the price for us! We again disagree but she didn't want to negotiate about anything. She knew well that in this time we can't leave her Hostel and go looking for something else because we wouldn't be able to find anything.
After maybe half an hour we meet at the price 30 soles per person for 7 beds (for 12 people), which was suitable for both sides, us and the Lady. I was really exhausted at that time but happy we found something.
Then we went for a dinner and back to the Hostel to go sleep. We had to get up around 4:30 to catch the Bus to Machu Picchu around 5:30. We wanted to be there one of the first ones. Me and Edmundo went to buy Bus Tickets and when we got back to Hostel, Edmundo found that there were stairs under the floor in our Hostel. I believe it were stairs to the Hell and the Lady was the Devil himself. I really didn't like her.
You can't imagine how surprise we were when we got to the Bus point at 5:30 and there was a que of maybe 100 people ahead of us. Luckily it didn't take much time and around 6:30 we were sitting in the Bus to the famous Machu Picchu. We got there around 7 am and it was so cool. There wasn't many people so we could enjoy the view alone with the Sun rise which was one of my best experince ever. Noone was able to take a picture of that but maybe it's good thing because you have to see this on your own eyes.
Later on around 10am there got so many tourist that we were almost unable to move there. We decided to go fo the "Inca bridge" and "Sun Gate". The first thing was big but funny dissapointment. We expected some kind of bridge like from Indiana Jones movie but it was just few pieces of wood beteween two rocks. And the bridge was closed.
Much better view we found at the "Sun Gate". It takes approx. 40 minutes to get there but it's totally worth it. Even the girls with injured knee, Rike And Luize, agreed on that. We spent in the Machu Picchu almost 6 hours, we went through the village and all the ruins, met the Alpakas, famous calendar stones etc. And around 2pm we got back on the way to Agua Calliantes and my favorite Hostel.
Everyone of our group went for a shower when we got back so I was quite sure there won't be any hot water for me and I don't shower in cold water anymore.
Then Rike came up with the idea to go to the Hot Springs. "Yea why not...". Of course the water in Hot springs is hot but eventually you have to go out from hot springs to get to shower and changing room. And I think I don't have to tell you how freezing it was outside. For few minutes I really thought I'm gonna stay there till the morning because it wasn't possible for me to leave the hot water.
But I had to look cool before Rike, so I left the water, went for shower and had few though words like "I expected to be more cold over here" or "I don't know why are the others so freezing, it's quite warm".
I was just hoping not to get sick in next few days. Then we went for a dinner in some Pizza restaurant. I don't have to tell you how hungry I was. There was Happy our for drinks so Rike ordered Pisco Sour (I think) and I ordered Mojito. Waiter forgot what we ordered so he came to ask again. No problem. Then Rike ordered her Pizza and I chose the Bacon one. After few mins, when the Rike's one was almost ready, Waiter came to tell me they have no Bacon left. Ok, that happens...
So I chose another one, with sausagge. Then the Waiter brought Rike's pizza and I had to look at her how she's eating while I was starving over there. Of course she offered me one of her pieces of pizza, but remember, I'm the tough guy.
While I was thinking about eating my chair, Waiter finally came to our table but gave me only pizza with cheese... I din't care actually, I ate it in maybe 4 minutes.
Next morning we got up very early again and went back through the jungle to get to Hidroelectrica for our Combi back to Cusco. Luize's knee was really bad so she decided to go by a train and wait for us. This time we made it in 2 hours and 15 minutes. The ride back to Cusco took something around 6 hours.
We had an awesome Hostel in Cusco. Big difference to the one in Agua Calliantes. We cooked our own dinner, spaghetti, and then we just sit there talking for hours. We made a video greeting to our countries.
I hope our families enjoy it, because we did. We slept well after long time, or atleast I did. Then we went with Edmundo and Rike to buy some food and we made "Breakfest for Kings". We made Omelets
with ham and sausagge and good coffee. Day before we had a Chocappic cerealies with milk. Little bit of european food over here.
We spent Tuesday walking around the Cusco and shopping which almost killed me. I don't like it, every shop sells completely the same clothes, bracelets and other things but we had to visit almost all of them. I am such a hero that I survived it.
We checked the historical centre of Cusco then we went to Blanco Cristo, which is a statue of the Crist, very similar to the one in Rio De Janeiro in Brasil or the one in Lisboa in Portugal that I visited.
And in the evening we took a Bus back to Arequipa. It was very cold again, I have to come up with some idea how to deal with this. But after all I enjoyed it. I saw the famous Machu Picchu but was dissapointed how crowded that place became. I have better memories and experiences from Colca Canyon because it was only us in the middle of huge Canyon without anyone else. That was an adventure. Here I felt much more like usuall tourist.
We made really good choice going without agency. Rike is really good in planning so we made the trip half price that with agency. And I believe we enjoyed it much more.
But next time we go in smaller group. 12 person is too much, sometimes I felt like in the Kindergarden. We came back to Arequipa at 4 am and we are leaving to Puno, Bolivia at 4pm so no time for relaxing. And it's only me, Rike, Edmundo and Fernanda. My favourite trekking team.