The goose that lays the golden eggs.

My flight from Lima to Cusco was on a BAe 146 followed by a taxi to the hotel, trip to ATM and a strip of thin beef with rice and chips in a dodgy looking cafe. You guessed it, the next day I met Montezuma, well not that bad monty python really, but don't worry it passed quickly, boom boom.

Next day was a travel day, I left my suitcase and laptop bag with the hotel and took my small Tesco rucksack with essentials. My taxi took me up the hill to the station at Poroy and we headed on a Peru Rail train up the valley following the river Urubamba. After 4 hours of being subjected to Manuel and the music of the mountains, last heard in 1975, we arrived in Machu Picchu town (or Agula Callientes). This is a tourist trap and prices are hiked. It consist mainly of hotels, hostels and restaurants. I asked about buses to Machu Picchu and was advised by the receptionist to have an early breakfast and get to the bus stop at 0530 to beat the queues.

Sunday 30th October. I got up, ate and got to the bus stop spot on time to find a queue of hundreds snaking up the hill. It took half an hour to get to a bus then another half a hour to zig zag up the hill just feet away from a sheer drop. This track was mostly one way and buses were reversing back up the steep incline to let upcoming buses pass. Finally got there and went straight in. No maps seemed to be available (I think they want you to pay for a guide) and I found myself wandering up a very steep path following some Americans who didn't know where they were going either. I finally thought of referring to my mobile map and the site was indeed included. We had wandered slightly off track but a short walk back down and I was overlooking the site. It was very cloudy and I had to wait for a break in the clouds to get a decent picture. I spent two and a half hours walking around the one way system contending with lots of foreigners with sticks taking selfies. The pictures kind of speak for themselves. The site has been reconstructed, though not sure how much, but it is still a one off and is very impressive.

The health and safety was also impressive: the first photo shows the rope stopping you fall of the edge and the second is a pedestrian bridge which is crossed by the 2,500 visitors a day, complete with safety string.

By 1000 the sun was breaking through and I was starting to feel weary with the altitude and the heat. I headed back to the bus and braved the reversing uphill round blind corners to alight back in the town. I had 6 hour to kill before my train back so I considered hing a meal. The Alpaca was tempting but I am away with Mr Marsden (work colleague) next spring so decided not to. And that chicken is not quite right, it looks like it has got teeth and four legs the same size, so I gave that a miss too. I had checked our of my hotel in the morning so stood outside to get Wi-Fi as I could still log in. Found out that Bristol Rugby lost to sale, well at least somebody will be pleased (work joke).

Gone to lunch, well we don't want the tourists tripping over it do we!

Finally boarded the train a 1630. On the way up we were constantly offered food and drink. As I had eaten a big breakfast I could only manage a piece of cake and a coffee. So I decided to just have a roll at lunchtime so that I could take advantage of the feast on the way back. It transpired that this consisted of a small bag of corn nuts, but we were treated to the sight of a snow covered mountain. The German guy sat next to me had got his flight for $8 from a site called holiday pirates that trawls the airlines for mistakes in fare prices. May have to check that out hymie my boy.

I arrived back the hotel at 2100 (0200 UK time) tired, hungry, knackered and crashed.

Great day though.

Footnotes: The bank have finally deigned to send me a secure message on my account 9 days after stopping my card.

And I did wonder if Otto should consider a mohecan, I think it might suit you.