Day 67: Friday, December 7th

Day 2 of Machu Picchu Jungle Trek

Dear Obiwan,

Oh my Jedi, today was rough. What’s interesting is that most of the day is a blur to me, I actually don’t remember most of it. My brain just blocked it out! I think my brain is going into survival mode and it knows in a few weeks I am HIKING THE W-TREK IN TORRES DEL PAINE and it just wants me to forget this hike. What I do remember is our guide is an asshole and hating hills.

WAIT: LOOK how our morning started, with these gansta turkeys!:

In summary, the hike was up and around and through the jungle in these mountains. Some of the hike was the actual Inca trail!

At one point we stopped at this beautiful place for rest. We sat down and our guide showed us the most popular drink, Inca Tequila, which was in a bottle with a DEAD SNAKE IN IT, look:

We all were given a shot, if we wanted, and of course I took it Obi, when in Machu Picchu! After this we had a little bit of food and admired the MACAW AND PARROTS. About 20 minutes into relaxing here we saw our OLD HIKING CREW, Carolina, the Argentinian couple and David! We were all so excited to see each other…and yet again, they were having a VIP EXPERIENCE. I want to just think that they paid more and had a better agency, that must be it? But they got soooo much more food and drinks and their guide painted their faces with this natural paint stuff from a fruit!

Then we were off back to our hike. Let me tell you about the worst guide of my life- EDO. In the beginning of day he told us that there were 2 guides, so ONE WILL ALWAYS BE in the front AND IN THE BACK. And Obi, somehow this new group was almost all younger people, like early 20’s, who were super active and hiked really quickly. I honestly never saw them stop to take a fricken picture. I on the other hand was going to take my time and not kill myself, which meant I was almost always last. I also would be taking pictures and enjoying whatever parts of the hike I could enjoy.

The most upsetting thing was this guide, Edo. Even writing about it right now I am getting HEATED. He had his WALKING STICKS so it’s already easier for him and he would walk behind me…for about 5 minutes and would HUFF AND PUFF- just sigh loudly and angrily. Then after about 5 minutes he would pass me. Sometimes it would be me and this reallllly nice and amazing couple, I think from Chile? But Edo told us that someone will always be behind, THE AGENCY TOLD ME THAT DON’T WORRY ABOUT THE HIKE A GUIDE WILL ALWAYS BE WITH YOU. And lies all lies. Edo was such a jerk, I am going to the agency for sure and maybe even writing a review on Trip Advisor. I did not feel safe, I felt like a burden and was also in pain and dying, then on top of that feeling that way from Edo? Also, GET READY FOR THIS- I was probably about 5-10 minutes behind everyone, which ISN’T THAT BAD. And every hour or so I would catch up to them because they were given a break, and then the moment Edo the asshole would see me coming he would tell everyone to get up…SO that means I would never have a break. And YES, this makes so much sense right Obi? Let the SLOWEST PERSON NEVER HAVE A BREAK. Because obviously I DON’T NEED IT! I am still so angry. I felt awful and that should be the opposite of how you feel on a hike.

In the end, I DID IT OBI. The hike was miserably hot, lots of up hill and sometimes down, but mostly up or slightly even. Also, sometimes you weren’t in the jungle or trees and when the sun beated down on you it was awful. I think I have to give up my hatred of how I look in hats and buy one.

Oh wait look at my favorite part of the hike! This little bridge gondola thing you had to rice in to crossover the river!!!:

Initially we made it to our next hostel, it was nicer than the first! No cockroaches and A HOT SHOWER. We all had dinner at this place where they gave us more Inka Tequila. I was sitting with the couples from Chile and there was this one couple, Angeles and her boyfriend and they were JUST THE BEST. So nice, funny, warm, and welcoming, it felt like we were old friends. We all drank and had a great time!

This night was supposed to be the big party night I guess? The town had 2 clubs and a bunch of people wanted to go out. I was dying from exhaustion AND it started to rain. The night ended with me at first going with the small group of people to the ‘club’ and I stood there for 30 seconds and left.

The day was tough Obiwan but it’s over now and some parts of the hike were incredibly beautiful and fun. But I don’t think I’m an 8 hour hiker type of gal, Obi…And I will have to be for Patagonia so who knows, people can change.

Goodnight my lamb,

Love tu Madre,

Carly