The Americas 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY DARLING

We left the Monasterio Hotel before 8am for our transfer to catch the Hiram Bingham train from Rio Segrado to Machu Picchu. The transfer to Rio Segrado takes one down into the sacred valley and the vistas are endless and beautiful. The train to Machu Picchu is an orient express train much like the famous Venice Simplon that the same company runs and the trip down to the MP ruins is incredible…mountains, rivers, valleys, forests and Jungles…AWESOME!

View over the Sacred Valley..

Train staff were aware of Jacqui’s birthday so the band sang “Happy Birthday” and we got a small cake..

On route to Machu Picchu..

We arrived at Aguas Calientas (the town below the ruins where all the trains arrive) at lunch time and were then bussed up the 300m zig zag road up to the Machu Picchu Sanctuary lodge Hotel where we are spending the next 2 nights. There is only one hotel next to the ruins and this is it. It is owned and managed by Orient Express and the fact that they have a completely captive market is reflected in the prices..accommodation and food, which are over the top. That said, staff are well trained and the service is brilliant although the hotel could definitely do with some upgrading.

View of the ruins from the Hotel Jacuzzi..

I was last here about 10 years ago and although there was control related to letting people into the ruins etc, nothing like the over the top regulation that has taken place since the site became a Unesco recognised destination. We all had a lazy afternoon however by the time we tried to enter the ruins at about 4:01pm we were told that closing time is 5pm and last entries are at 4pm, NO exceptions…Very annoying!

The 5 of us celebrated Jacqui’s birthday dinner at the hotel and it was an early night after that as we have a 5:30am meeting time to enter the ruins to watch the sunrise.

Jax and her father, Pete.