Day 16 - Goodbyes and Machu Picchu!

     A warm welcome to all the families of Peru from Julian and Matthew. Today we said our bitter-sweet final goodbyes to our lovely host families before setting off for Ollyantaytambo, then Aguas Calientes, and eventually one of the 7 wonders of the world, Machu Picchu. 

 

    We woke up slightly early this morning to finish up packing our final items, enjoy a delicious, home-made breakfast, and meet up in Don Thomas's compound for one final goodbye with each and every home stay family. We began by sharing fond memories and appreciations for all that our families had done for us. We then took many photos with our families and exchanged hugs. Right before our departure, Don and Gladdis handed out custom Zurite mugs consisting of the very hummingbird terraces which we had visited earlier in our trip. 


We then loaded up and hopped on the bus which took us to the train station in Ollyantaytambo. There, we were greeted with many locals displaying colorful, Incan clothing and many tourists bustling about. After a brief wait, we boarded on the train and set off for our hour trip to Aguas Calientes. On the train, the employees acted out the traditional Incan story called Cusi Coyllur about a forbbiden love between a warrior and the Inca emperor's daughter. We also briefly talked with some other people on the train who were also from the bay area. 

Towards the end of our ride, the outdoor scenery transformed into a dense jungle which eventually transitioned into the visually stunning city of Aguas Calientes. We hurriedly bustled off the train packed to the brim with the huge luggage we had to carry around. From there, we walked through crowed streets and alleyways filled with shops and vendors until we arrived at our hotel. 


We quickly set our bags down in our hotel rooms and then hustled over to the bus stop to head up to Machu Picchu. Although the bus ride was precarious, steep, and filled with tight turns, it was well worth the wait once we arrived at the entrance to the 600 year old ancient city. The entrance was quite chaotic with hurried tourists running around, long bathroom lines, and tour guides shouting out random names. Once we got through the entrance, our own tour guide led us around the side of the mountain until finally coming face to face with an incredibly breathtaking view. Ascending terraces leading in all directions,  Scattered stone houses, and a huge mountain backdrop. The view was truly amazing. For the rest of the afternoon, our guide explained the history of this landmark as we traversed the top viewing deck, stopping for photos often.


After a long day with lots of travel and astonishing views, we headed back to our hotel full of content. It had been a sad day to depart from the families we had become accustom to, but equally rewarding with the view of Machu Picchu, stepping on the very stones which ancient Incans had walked over half a millenium ago.


See you soon and thanks for listening!


- Julian Lemay and Matthew Bowden 

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