D-day almost here

So, by the time most of you read this (unless you are reading it on Monday evening) I will be hiking the Inca Trail!!! The reason for my travels to Peru is finally here. And I am exhausted and have no idea how I am going to do this. I will be be posting a blog until Friday, June 1...I repeat, I will not be posting a blog until Friday June 1 and it might just be a word to say I am alive as I will arrive back in Cusco around 9 p.m. and will probably fall straight asleep. Please do not call the embassy because I will not have internet access on the trail. Here´s is a brief description of my iternary.

Day 1: pick up at 4:30 a.m., start hiking by 7 a.m. Start at 8923 feet, camp at Llulluchapampa at 12,460 feet. 16 km

Day 2: hike down to Chaquicocha 11800 feet, Cloud forest, 15 km

Day 3: hike down to Wiñay Huayna 8792 feet, 10 km.

Day 4: start hiking by 4:30 5 km to Machu Picchu 7873 feet

Please pray my legs last...

So today I traveled via combis and buses to Ollaytantambo to see some ruins, if you click on my link from yesterday there is information about it. This was the only point that the Spanish Conquistidors almost lost a battle against the Inca. And when you see the pictures you will see why. You have to climb like 500 steps to get to the top, so who knows what the Spanish got pelted with on their heads trying to asscend the mountain.

I was really intrigued with the irrigation system today. It was amazing me how the water is being drawn from somewhere on the mountain, through the community. It runs under the sidewalks and into each dwelling and there a lot of pools, and fountains. Very interesting to see.

When I arrived in Ollaytantambo there was some religious parade of some sort going on. Lots of interesting costumes and bands playing. It went on for hours. The ruins are right next to the town and it was possible to hear the bands playing when I was at the top of the cliff, so not serenity for me today.

On the bus back to Cusco, I sat next to a guy who proceeded to talk to me (my theory of only men talking to me still stands) in Spanish. And I was very impressed with my ability to have a conversation with him. When he was asking me why my brother did not travel to Peru with me, I think my sentence went something like this (translated for you in English) "Brother Scott no like travel Peru" I know it was really broken Spanish because the guy looked very perplexed for a minute. Or I said my brother likes to wear Peruvian dresses (just kidding Scott). There was a school girl hovering over me because there were like 50 people crammed on this bus and she was laughing everytime I spoke.

Traveling in Peru is really interesting. Most people do not own cars, and take taxis or combis everywhere. Combis or collectivos are the minivans packed with people. If you want to hop on one, you just stick out your hand and one will stop and you climb on in, then tell the driver where you want to get off. All combis have a route they take, so it´s not like a personal taxi service. You can only get off along their route. If you have any bags or harps like someone today, it gets tied down on top and you just hope it doesn´t blow away.

Driving through these mountains roads is frightening. I don´t know why the government bothers painting lines on the road, no one pays attention to them. So what if it´s a double line and you are driving around a curve and can´t see if cars are coming. That truck in front of you is going slower than you, so you pass him, honking the entire time. Honking is so common here, honk if you want to pick someone up and you´re taxi is empty, honk if someone is driving slow, honk if you are passing, honk if someone walks in front of your car, honk if you are passing someone and they aren´t getting over enough and there is a truck coming straight at you honking of course, because you are in their lane. Now I know why everyone is making the sign of the cross when riding in a combi.

I guess you can´t complain to much when you get to travel 30 km for only .70 cents.

I am off to my meeting with my guide for my trek. Wish me luck and pray I make it 4 days with out a shower wearing the same clothes :)

Hasta luego