Abancay to Cusco, Friday, 4 January 2013, Day 185

What do we need to stop for this time?

Another landslide

Waiting for the road to be cleared.

A short run to Cusco Alex and Andrea where couch surfing and I had a name of a hostel so a late start. The problem is that I have lost my ability to sleep in so was up and awake by 8am and we had agreed to leave at 10am so I went for some breakfast on my own and had a lasagne and a meat pasty and a cup of milky coffee (please note I had no supper last night so I was starving Marvin) Back to the hotel where I borrowed a hammer as I had to fix my panniers that had taken a beaten over the last couple of weeks. Twice I had hit a wall going through the narrow roads they have for motorcyclists at the toll booths and I hit a motorcycle taxi a couple of days ago in traffic all with the right pannier. Yesterday I noticed that the lock was no longer connecting so it needed adjusting as it had been knocked out of place and today I was going to knock the dent out and try and seal the hole that had been made as the panel had taking a large shunt so I am happily banging away at my pannier with a large hammer with my bike parked in a hotel lobby. I sort of seal the gap it will need some taping as well. By this time A&A where up so I decided to go and have breakfast with them as well (I had just a coffee which turned out to be bloody expensive) while they where eating there breakfast I decided to do an autopsy on my middle set of gloves. My summer gloves had holes in them and my middle gloves which I have had for years where no longer fitting well the lining had become twisted making it difficult to get them on and of and the little finger never felt right so I decided to change these from middle to summer gloves by cutting out the lining. They’re where two linings a waterproof layer and a cotton layer that I kept whole so that I can use these as extra layer in these gloves or in my winter gloves if it really get cold. So I have a new set of summer gloves without holes in them they are still covered with lots of glue from the lining but this will soon be gone after wearing them for a couple of days so I had salvaged some extra usage out of these gloves. Why not buy some new ones you ask well gloves are like shoes they are horrible to wear when new and get better with age and usage better in the sense of comfort rather than practicality as they leak and have holes in them but are dam comfortable so I find it difficult to get rid of them and get new ones.

Preparing for bad weather always draws an audience it was pissing down 5 minutes later

So a productive morning and another nice run into Cusco except it decided it was going to rain on us. So out with the wet weather gear and Alex was leading at a slow and sensible pace as the road had turned greasy and muddy and as he had his prize possession on the back (His Computer 🙂 no I mean Andrea!) he was taking no risks which suited me fine as I was not happy pushing it to hard in conditions like this either.

Wet wet wet!

stopped at a Market looking for a sheepskin for A & A

We found the Hostel thanks to the GPS sort of but they where full but then they were not it was a bit strange but I had a bed for the night and a place for the bike after riding down a steep wooden ramp (remember awkward parking places not looking forward on getting out of this one). It turns out that the place is full tomorrow so I can only stay one night but I can come back on Sunday preferably Monday so I needed a plan. So after chatting to a French bloke the plan was to leave Daisy at the hostel and get the bus and train to Machu Picchu and stay there a couple of nights and then come back and spend another day in Cusco.

I had a quick wander around town and then back to the Hostel chatting with some other bikers as this was one of those biker gathering spots looking for info on the road ahead and swapping tall stories as that what bikers do (not me of course as I have no tall stories!)

Bed is me alone in 6-bed dorm still confused about the place being full maybe he did not like the look of Alex 🙂 who was not even planning on staying there anyhow!

Cusco to Machu Picchu to Cusco, Saturday, 5 January 2013 to Monday, 7 January 2013, Day 186 to Day 188

Wow its even better in real life 🙂

Philly finally made it to Machu Picchu yeah!

One of the main reasons for coming to South America was to see Machu Picchu. This had been a live long ambition of mine for as long as I can remember so I was a little disappointed when I woke up and it was pissing down and cold. Mmmm does not look good. Had my free breakfast at the Hostel and packed an overnight bag. As the weather was so poor I decided to wear me bike jacket and I had my waterproof trousers on as well so I was prepared for the worse. I said Tata to Daisy and headed to the Microbus station. 2 hours to Ollyantambo where I had to get a train which was another 1.5 hours a pleasant enough trip. The bus cost 6 bucks for 90km but the train cost 70 bucks for 60km Cor blimey guv they are screwing the tourists here but I was in the mind-set that this trip was going to be special and I was not going to let money spoil it, it will cost what it costs and my wallet was going to take a hammering for the next couple of days but this is a once in a lifetime experience.

Train to Aguas Caliente

The sun came out when I arrived at Agua Caliente the small service town for Machu Picchu and then I thought I had planned for bad weather and I had not really thought that the sun could shine and I did not have the appropriate kit with me so I would have to lug a huge bike jacket around and I had no spare clothes as I was not expecting it to be hot and sweaty mmmm great planning mate.

lugging huge bag due to bad planing 😦

Agua Caliente is a small village full of restaurant’s and hotels so finding somewhere to stay for a couple of nights was no problem so with that sorted of to buy a ticket for Phillys big day tomorrow. There are 2500 tickets available a day and I had checked yesterday and there was 1600 left so it was no problem getting a ticket. I wanted to get a ticket for one of the mountains either side but for these you need to book this weeks in advance and I am not that organised and I had no idea when I was going to hit this spot. I did get a ticket for Machu Picchu Mountain so some serious climbing will be done tomorrow. I went for a walk and I had seen all of the village in no time and I walked along the river as I had heard you could walk to Machu Picchu so instead of shelling out another small fortune for the bus. 20 minutes walk to a bridge across the river and then 1.5 hours hike straight up. So I did the 20 minutes and I saw the hill and decided that tomorrow I would be getting the bus sod the expense and I will do a load of walking at the top without killing myself before even I get there. Walked back to town and had dinner at a cheap Chinese I had found good feed and then I got some carrot cake at a French boulangerie the French guy had told me about and then back to my room as I had set the alarm for 5.30am for my big day. I had not brought my PC with me so I  was at a bit of a loss of what to do as my evening rituals for the last 6 month revolved around my PC sad I know but I did have my Kindle so was reading an autobiography of Rafael Nadal called Rafa. Interesting and boring at the same time which is a weird combination but the bloke who wrote this pulled it off as have I with this blog mostly boring but with the odd interesting bit thrown in or is it just mostly boring!

  

Up at the crack of dawn down to the bus station and before I knew it I was entering Machu Picchu and the weather was good. So after wanting to be here for so long was it disappointing nope exactly how I imagined it so far so good. I Wander round near the entrance area trying to get away from the masses and thenI  head up Machu Picchu mountain as I was hoping few people would be there and I was right. The guy at the entrance to this walk said it would take 1 hour and 20 minutes and I made in exactly that time which felt good as it was up hill and steps all the way so lots of breaks to get my breath back as we are at altitude. Talking of altitude so far I have not had to much trouble with it except for the first night in Puquiro I was a bit short of breath and had trouble catching my breath and woolly mouth syndrome so some slight effects but as I took things slow and easy no problem and I have no problem with slow and easy 🙂

Slow and easy does it!

I met a nice Korean family on the way up and they gave me a Korean Power Bar which was nice and of course they insisted on having there photo taken with me as if I was some kind of celebrity. The top was at 3000 meters and there where great views over Machu Picchu and all the way up so I am taking loads of pictures. I had my breakfast up there and finished my water supply for the day oops. Going down was not that easy as the steps I had come up were quite steep and small and uneven.

      

      

 

Met a lot people coming up who kept asking me how far it is to the top and they look in worse shape than I did so considering I have not done any serious exercise in 6 months I am not in  bad condition and glad I got up there before it got to busy and that I was on my way downhill not up 🙂

I got back to Machu Picchu and had a little lie down as I had just done 3 plus hours hard climbing and then the next plan was to top up my water supply so headed back to the entrance to get a drink which cost a small fortune (5USD) I should have brought some more liquids with me but at least I had enough food as they where charging a fortune for that as well as they had the monopoly up here on what they could charge.

Back amongst the tourist blah!

      

      

      

So rehydrated and rested time to take a look at Machu Picchu up close as it was brilliant from up high and as it turns out it was quite brilliant close up the downside was that it was quite busy I would prefer to see the place on me own without other tourist but hey that is a big ask.

So after 8 hours wandering around this gorgeous place I was knackered so time to say goodbye and head back to my hotel. Funny thing was it had been pissing down in the village whereas up the mountain at Machu Picchu it was bone dry and been a gorgeous day weather wise all day.

Difficult in getting a shot without other tourist in it!

I got back to the hotel for a nap and they kindly informed me that they needed my room and could I move to another hostel. Short answer could I bollocks I was staying put. Strange conversation but in the end I was certainly not moving.

I had a nap and then to a nice square where I had a pizza and an Inca Cola my new addiction. Expensive but exactly what I needed then I spotted Alex and Andrea who had just arrived so I took them to the Chinese I went to last night and caught up with there recent adventures and then back to the room where I finished reading about Rafa and then moved on to Winston Churchill the only interruption was the owner knocking on my door asking to be paid for the room at 10pm which was strange but being asked to be move to another hostel was also strange.

Early start again as I had an early train to Ollantaytambo another pleasant train journey spent an hour or so wandering round the village which was nice as there was some sort of religious celebration going on in the main square as well.

Mean streets of Ollantaytambu!

Colourful festival!

     

I got a Micro taxi back to Cusco and the Hostel and I ended going out for dinner with 4 other bikers that where staying there.

Harry English 2 years on the road on a Diesel Royal Enfield

Glen Australian 1.5 years on the road or more on a Chinese bike brought locally in Peru

Miccu (I think) Japanese not sure how long on the road on a Suzuki DR400, which he had just dropped in a river so, he was waiting for new parts

Jasper Denmark not sure how long he had been on the road on a KLR650 his opening statement to me was why would any one bother bringing a bike from Europe as he had brought his in the US and was of the opinion that was the only and best way to do it. Arrogant Tosser.

We where looking for a curry house but this was closed so ended up in another nice place called Jacks Place and a pleasant evening as usual tall biker stories.

So that was my Machu Picchu trip I could call it quits now as I it was one of the main reasons for this trip but I guess there still loads more to see. I am happy that it lived up to my expectations as many a time these place look great in the brochure but not in reality well this one was better in reality I had a fantastic couple of days 🙂

Loads more excellent pictures on SmugMug just click on the  Smugmug ICON in the top right hand corner

Cusco, Tuesday, 8 January 2013, Day 189

Fashion styles and accessories differ on the streets of Cusco

I have been getting up very early for the last couple of days so the plan was to have a lie in but as you know it seems I have lost my ability to lie in so I was up reasonably early having a nice breakfast in the courtyard and in the sun. Plan was to go and have a wander around Cusco but it was pleasant in the courtyard folks to chat with so was not till about 12am when I got my arse in gear and I went wandering.

Nice sun trap for breakfast when its not raining

Four seasons in one day is what the weather is like here so from gorgeous sunshine to torrential rain and everything in between. I walked up a hill and it started chucking it down and the only place to shelter was a church. However all the churches in Cusco you have to pay to get in so as I was trying to shelter the lady asked me for 10 sols nope alright 5 sols is she haggling also nope. I have a principle never to pay to go in Churches as they are for the people built by the sweat of the people and I am not going to pay to any religious organisation especially one as rich as he Catholic church so I sheltered under an awning just by the door of a church until it stop raining.

weeeeeeeee 🙂

Four seasons in one day Cusco

Having wandered all over Cusco I headed back to the hostel where a Canadian guy with the help of Glen was trying to sell his Kawasaki KLR650. A couple of days ago near Puquiro he had a head on collision with a Taxi at about 70km the bike was a mess he fortunately was okay bruised ankle but definitely still in shock. He had managed to get the bike to Cusco about 500km away and to the Hostel and as he had only 3 weeks left of his trip left and the bike was probably not worth shipping home and or not having the time to attempt to fix it up he was selling it to a Peruvian mechanic a contact of Glen for a song. The mechanic guy was going to try and drive it home so after pulling off all of the bits that was rubbing or impeding forward progress off or out and topping up the radiator which would hold no water he got it started and out of the hostel he even was going to try and take his girlfriend with him on a seriously bent and knackered bike but we persuaded him to put her in a Taxi and of he went no helmet into Cusco rush hour. I have forgotten the Canadian guys name which is a shame as he also gave me a great map of South America but you could see he was very upset when the guy rode of his bike which he had had for a while since new and had just done a great trip on and in a blink was over because of some tosser in A Taxi cutting blind corners and claiming poverty and no insurance when the shit hit the fan. It could be anyone of us so food for thought. The final blow during the accident was that someone had nicked some of his soft luggage. Bastards!

Good luck mate and have a safe trip home.

Famous 12 sided inca stone the masonary work here that the Incas did was fantastic!

That evening I went for a Mexican meal with Glen and Jasper it is funny but the conversation seems always to dwell on negative things such as accidents and robberies and all of the things that can go wrong on a trip like this. This always seems to be the case when you get a bunch of bikers together no idea why and most off putting for me who’s confidence ain’t that high at the best of times.

mmm women in uniform makes you want to do the crime 🙂

Cusco to Puno, Wednesday, 9 January 2013, Day 190

Back in the mountains again yeah!

Back on the road again, but first another great breakfast in the sun in the courtyard. I had to get the bike out of the courtyard up a wobbly ramp into a seriously busy road. I managed this but for some strange reason my nerves and bottle today are totally shot. I am as nervous as hell on the bike, which is weird seeing as I have ridden 45,000km and today my bottle has gone. So I made my way carefully into the Cusco traffic it felt like everyone wanted the piece of road that I happened to be occupying at that moment. I guess that guy’s accident and all the tall stories had got to me so how do I resolve this? So my solution which is a really blokey type resolution. Get aggressive so before you know it I am blaring my horn at anyone and anything that dares comes near me and effing and blinding shouting at all the taxi drivers and bus drivers that seem to be driving aimlessly all over the road. Not that this has any effect on there driving but makes me feel better and slowly my confidents returns and before you know it I am clear of Cusco back in the mountains back in the groove as there is less traffic once you clear city limits.

Love it outside of the towns and cities!

Destination is Puno its gorgeous except it decides to rain again on and off so on with the wet weather gear and warm gloves on as I have some seriously high passes to get over. A great ride even in the wet scenery is stunning even though sometimes I had no feeling in my fingers from the cold. I finally hit a town called Juliaca, one word to describe this place “shit-hole”. It was awful and the roads the worst I have seen on this trip it was like driving on the surface of mars the whole ring road (I am guessing this is a ring road) had been dug up and then left. Huge potholes and as it had raining so the potholes full of water so huge puddles of which you had no idea how deep they where so I tried to go round them but this was not always possible and this would be just about manageable on your own but as this was a town your loony motor taxi’s and crap bus and taxi driver’s all trying to weave there way through this mayhem throw in all the pedestrian’s into the mix and I must say this was my worst experience of the trip so far and I made myself a promise that I would not come back this way. A short run into Puno which was not much prettier than Juliaca so I am already not liking it I was expecting a nice town on the shores of lake Titicaca not this brown blot on the landscape. I found the hotel I was looking for and checked in the usual hassle with the Internet (not working) and then I went for a walk to see if I could find the positive in this town. I walked down to the lake where they’re where 100’s of tour boats for the trips to the various reed islands. I am in tourist hell mmm not looking good so go for some dinner and back to my room where there is a note from Alex and Andrea who are in town to but I missed them for dinner I will try and touch base with them in the morning.

My idea of tourist hell these boats full of folks gawping at other folks!

So its decision time do I do one of those tours and go and see those floating reed islands or do I head for Arequipa and get my tyres sorted. Easy decision really I had no desire to go on mass organised boat trip to gawp at some folk living an alternate lifestyle that was probably practical originally but my guess is that now its purely for the tourist $  so I am heading back into the mountains I may regret this decisions but I did not fancy being a tourist for the day. Another decision I need to make is whether or not to go to Bolivia or not and that means coming back via Lake Titicaca or figuring out another route. A & A are in town as there is a Bolivian Consulate here and they need a visa so if successful they are going through Bolivia me I will decide in Arequipa once I have sorted me tyres.