Day 69: Sunday, December 9th

Stayed at Ecopackers in Cuzco, Peru

Dear Obiwan,

Here is the day. After 3 days of biking, rafting, zip-lining, and more hiking than I asked for, IT WAS TIME TO HIKE TO THE TOP OF MACHU PICCHU, OBIWAN!

I woke up a 4:00am and I don’t understand how I wasn’t ready until 4:40am, but alas, we did not head out until then. Natasha was up since 2:00am! She couldn’t sleep due to being anxious about the hike as well. Natasha also told me that last night at dinner 3 people did not have their passports which are needed to enter Machu Picchu! She said that Cassie, from England, was some how allowed in but the 2 really nice French guys WEREN’T GIVEN TICKETS. They planned to take the earliest van up and go in person and see if that helps. I REALLY HOPE THEY CAN GET IN!!!

Oh, she also said that at dinner they met the guide for Machu Picchu (NOT EDO YAYAYAYAYAY) and he said we had to be there between 6:00 and 6:30! This was such great news (plus 10 minutes Obi)!

As always, the time walking to the gate was under estimated, we were told 20 minutes but took us about 30 minutes. We finally started our accent around 5:10 a.m.?

Natasha had a rough day yesterday. She was pretty sick and the 3.5 hour hike to Aguas Calientes was really tough. She also has a way faster pace then me and hates hiking so each hike she was ahead of me but dying as well.

I told her not to worry and we parted right away at the beginning of the hike.

I was alone only for a few minutes. The hike was a tight zig-zag path UP. Just steep, but NOT AS STEEP AS COLCA CANYON, because nothing is as steep as that hike from hell.

But it was steep none the less and I met some really nice people who were at my walking pace, we would pass each other back and forth and one of us would rest, then the other would pass, and we all would take turns motivitating each other, “you can do it! You got this!’ Etc.

Also around 10 minutes into my hike I met Brian, a really nice guy from California. He told me about all the hikes he has been doing all over the world and South America! He was obviously a very fit and athletic person, BUT HE STAYED WITH ME. And would cheer me on and we would make each other laugh. He also acknowledged HOW DIFFUCLT the incline was and I just felt so grateful because the last 4 days have been so many people saying “oh it’s not too hard,” blah blah blah. It was everything I needed and more. I had been mostly hiking alone this whole fricken trip and I don’t mind, but I think my RAGE for our awful guide made it not the best hiking experience. But finally I was not alone and with someone who had similar humor to me and who was cheering me on.

And FINALLY at 6:23 AM WE DID IT! I made it to the top Obi and WITH SOME TIME TO SPARE! I’m so proud of myself, I didn’t realize how good it would feel to hike it and man, it felt so good to finally reach the top! I found my group and Natasha said she arrived 10 minutes before me and almost everyone else about 10 minutes before her.

The first thing was the really nice girl, Desirée, from Sweden said “congrats you did it!” Which felt so good. Then Noelle, a really nice and funny girl from California said, “put on a coat you have no idea how cold it is YOU WILL FREEZE.” But interestingly enough, I was not cold at all and never felt cold. Natasha’s from RUSSIA and I run hot when I exercise so, we didn’t put our jackets on and it was completely fine. Also, we just climbed the top of Machu Picchu! Let’s BASK IN THAT FOR A SECOND!!!

Also, Brian and I hoped we would have the same tour group but we weren’t. He also was climbing Waynu Picchu, which iy had NO IDEA that you need to book this 3 months in ADVANCE. At first I was bummed that I did not have the 1 hour hike to the top top of Waynu Picchu where you get an amazing 360 degree view of Machu Picchu. But…quickly that disappointment faded with my body aches and heaving breathing. NEXT TIME OBI, I think next time (cause I definetly want to come back!) I will take the van up to Machu Picchu then hike Waynu Picchu! But also Obi…I’ve been told that there are these steps that if you mis-step you will just PLUNGE TO YOUR DEATH, and you’ve seen me walk or just exist and I fall all the time so, maybe this isn’t in my cards?

After this our tour began, it was about…2 hours? Our guide was amazing! I was also so grateful to be with Natasha, we both were GLEAMING and smiling and just so proud and happy to be at the top. Most of our group just looked, content? It was so confusing, GUYS, WE ARE AT MACHU PICCHU, SMILE! But luckily my partner was Natasha who kept turning to me with a big smile and saying, “We did it! LOOK!”

From left to right: tú madre, Natasha, Desire, and Noelle

We were also so grateful for the advice from Matt and Steve who told us to take the train back…because most of our group too the bus back which meant…get ready…they had to hike down the mountain and hike the 3.5 HOURS of the train tracks back! I would just have thrown my stuff on the ground and cried.

But we had the train! For some reason our train was at 7 while the other train folk were at 2 or 4? So…we were at Machu Picchu at 6:20 and had 13 hours! But nothing bothered us. We WERE HERE! And it was gorgeous.

Machu Picchu is incredible Obiwan. I…ignorantly (glad to know I wasn’t the only one) thought it was similar to Guatape, a bunch of steps and some cool stones on top of a mountain. But it’s a CITY. And it was so beautiful and fascinating. I don’t understand how they did this! Also, it’s so awful how they had to abandon it due to the Spanish conquerors.

After we said our goodbyes to some out of group people who were going on the bus we just relaxed on Machu Picchu for a few hours. I also saw Brian! He was leaving for Waynu Picchu and looked so excited.

We also saw A BUNCH OF LLAMAS. They just live there and have no fear of humans and will march up to you searching for food. We took some great pictures with the llamas!

After this we OF COURSE took the bus down, the other 2 train goers, Noelle and Desirée, walked back to Aguas Calientes, but…just NO WAY. Why? There’s a bus!

We then relaxed in Aguas Calientes for HOURS. We tried to get an earlier train but it was all booked. We then saw Noelle, Desirée, at this beautiful Cafe with a view and joined them. We a great time chatting and laughing about our last 4 days. OH we also saw Cassie and she told us that they saw the French guys while hiking down!!! They made it!!! We all were so happy for them.

Oh here’s a random picture from me and Natasha at a restaurant in Aguas Callientes that asks where you’re from then gives you your countries flag! Russia and USA, haha!

7:00pm finally happened and we were off on our 2 hour train ride to the next van to take us back to Cuzco. The train was beautiful! It was the most beautfiul train I have ever been on. They also gave us snacks and coffee or tea! Sadly the train was horribly rocky and it made Natasha’s sickness kinda come back, she was okay, but just didn’t feel well. While on the train the people who sat across form us were these really nice French men, maybe in their 50’s or 60’s? One of them was a Psychologist! We talked about how to travel or not travel and having a private practice. He gave me some needed clarity I needed because I keep thinking about my future and wondering how do I achieve my professional goals in the next few years and also travel again?

After the train we were at this train station at 9:00pm at night and had little faith that our van existed. But, it existed Obi! There was a woman yelling Natasha and get ready- my name was ‘KARLI ESTACION’ we saw it on a sign and laughed so hard!

Finally we were in the van, a small passenger van with 2 seats in the front. We sat in the front and the driver was so nice. He had his window down so it was cold but he gave us a blanket and we could tell he was exhausted by his face and the fact he kept popping coca leaves for energy. But whenever a song came on that we knew he would turn it up and we would sing along.

2 hours later, 11:15pm or so we were back at our hostel. I was supposed to move to a new hostel but they weren’t answering and honestly I was grateful because I couldn’t imagine going any further. Natasha somehow lost her card yesterday and was quite panicked but I told her OF COURSE not to worry and paid for the hostel. She said she will pay back and I totally trust her.

Lastly, OUR 10 PERSON ROOM HAD NO ONE IT. #blessed! I was so grateful that it was just us and then we both died and fell asleep in the comfy bunk beds of Ecopackers.

Goodnight my lamb!

Love tu Madre,

Carly