Aguas Calientes, 10/16

13 10.538 S, 072 35.752 W

At kilometer 86

We were up early and packed to meet our taxi ride to the train station at Poroy. We drove high up into the hill surrounding Cusco to find the pass to the next valley where Poroy is located. The train boards at 7:12 am and left the station on time at 7:42. It was full. There was a couple from Mexico across from us, some gentlemen from Korea in front plus many others. This was the Expedition train, $68 per person, one way.

The train wove through valleys where corn stalk were predominant. Homes were simple structures of mud and straw bricks with corrugated metal roofs. We saw pigs and piglets, sheep, cows, chickens, and dogs. The train passed through the towns of Pisac, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo, on the way to Aguas Calientes, the end of the line before Machu Picchu. We saw more Inca ruins along the way. Before Ollantaytambo we saw 3 dwellings precariously perched on the side of a mountain where some intrepid mountain guides had buuilt structures for climbers to stay as they climbed upward. At kilometer 86, we stopped to let off passengers who were going to do the 4 day trek on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. We watched them don their gear, cross the narrow suspension bridge across the Rio Urubamba and start the hike upward. Better them than I. 

Check out this website http://www.naturavive.com/index.php/en/ on the dwellings on this cliff side.

At Aguas Calientes we were met by a man holding a sign reading, "Ester and Richard, Mosoq Inti". That was us and he led us through the tourist market across Punta President to Mosoq Inti Hostel where we will stay the next two nights. Outside our window we may look down at new construction. The other window opens to a cinder block wall. But it is clean and we hope the showers will be hot.

Rich and I walked up one of main streets in town as far as the hot springs entrance. Many of the restaurants were empty and people were enticing you to come in and sit down. We found one place that was serving Mexican food and had folks sitting at several tables. Our lunch of chicken enchilladas was not bad, not the same as you would find at some Mexican restaurants in the US but okay.

Afterwards we looked for the French bakery. After a few mis directions we found it and now have 2 pain Au chocolate for our breakfast and a sandwich on baguette for tomorrow.

Cheers.