Today we had to leave our oasis in the cloud rainforest in Machu Picchu. I was really sorry to go but equally I think that if I had stayed any longer I would have literally been eaten alive by the sandflies - I am now covered with bites that are incredibly itchy! We had a leisurely breakfast watching the humming birds and eventually checked out for our 3-hour journey back to Cusco by train.
The journey had to be one of the most surreal rail journeys we have undertaken. It was very comfortable and we were served a meal of traditional Peruvian food on the usual hand woven table cloth. Afterwards I glanced up to see a person dressed in rainbow colours with a massive mask on - now that does not happen on South West trains! After the visit of the rainbow man (I think he represented an Inca God?), we were in for a fashion show put on by the train crew. The lady was really getting into it with a few twirls in between the swaying of the train but the chap did look rather self conscious - his jackets were very nice though.
Eventually we reached Cusco at 3,400 meters and were driven to our hotel. Unfortunately our suitcases that we had left in Ollayantambo had not arrived which was really annoying as our very limited clothes supply taken to Machu Picchu had all been worn and were definitely not in a fit state to wear again! It was a mistake by the ground support company and luckily they arranged for it to be driven over immediately and it arrived in 2-hours or so. I felt so sorry for the taxi driver even though it wasn’t our fault. We did tip him well but I hope the travel company paid him over-the-odds for his return journey of over 4-hours.
Wow, this trip is full of adventures of one kind and another! The "god" and the fashion show certainly would have made for a different trip for those not used to that sort of thing. The costume which we see in the picture is certainly colorful and exotic.
September 26th, 2015
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