On to Machu Picchu–May 11, 2017

It takes a while to get used to it, but by today it was the routine. The toilet paper goes in the trash can, not in the toilet everywhere in Peru. The other thing is how thin it is. A significant wad is necessary to assure one that what is being cleaned up will be on the paper and not on the hand. Isn’t great how we provide you with the all the details about our travels, even the ones you’d prefer not to know.

Heading out of town on a mini bus this morning we passed this section where a market that stretched for a number of blocks was taking place.

That’s about as fresh as pork ever gets. Whole hogs, halves, quarters or cut up. they had it anyway you would want it. Interestingly enough I don’t recall us having pork to eat in Peru. The predominate meat was chicken even though we saw many hole in the wall places selling pork, and not just the parts of the pig we are used to eating in the states.

A very common sight, little stands and carts along the roads selling food or drink.

They are, like, everywhere. She obviously has a regular clientele. A car is a luxury in Peru, with most people riding the bus. At the end of the pathway you see was a bus stop, or rather a place where buses stopped. The other thing you see is people walking alongside the road out in the country. We really don’t understand or appreciate just what all we have in the US, but that’s part of why we travel, to see how others live.

Many farms we saw as we traveled by bus from Cusco to Ollantaytambo were small.

But there were also larger farms when the permitted. They do not plant in large single fields, rather the fields are broken up into a mix of plantings.

Overlooking the town of Urubamba.

Something we very seldom ever saw in our travels, semi trucks and trailers. Most vehicles, buses included are on the small side.

One thing you most definitely see everywhere in Urubamba are mototaxis, which are literally everywhere. We quickly learned that they don’t stop, they just honk and keep on going.

Just how many mototaxis are there?

It’s a mototaxi and a whole lot more.

The town market.

You want it, they have it for sale.

Have to love the way they customize the mototaxis, especially the rear spoilers.

A visit to the Seminario Ceramics Workshop.

Pablo Seminario himself talking about how he created this piece. This was definitely a high moment for me as I truly do love ceramics.

Tools of a master.

Another awesome piece.

Inca ruins.

Guinea pigs are a source of food here. The floor of the houses are dirt and the guinea pigs are free to run loose. All entrances are raised above the floor level which keeps the animals confined to the room they are in.

Feeding the herd.

To get to Machu Picchu requires a train ride. We boarded at Ollantaytambo and the trip took 1.5 hours where we arrived at Aguas Calientes just below Machu Picchu.

Since it was only a one night stay, we left our large bags in Cusco, taking only an overnight bag. Our experience was that even though we packed light, we still over packed. I’m carrying our red duffle bag that only 3/4ths full as it was. Linda likes to be prepared for all the unexpected things that could happen. I’ve learned the only thing to say is nothing and the only thing to do is to carry the bag. Smart Bob.

I attend a weekly photography group meeting at Retama over the winter. The one thing everyone said was to learn as much about my new camera as I could before the trip, because it is no fun reading the manual and trying to learn how to use it during the trip. I can assure you this is not me, though I could truly see that what they told me about knowing your camera was definitely true.

Bag lunch on the train. It was surprisingly good, so good I eat everything. a boy has got to have fuel to burn when climbing around Machu Picchu. Linda took the, less food in the tummy, less weight to carry when climbing around Machu Picchu.

First item listed is fried guinea pig. When in Rome and all that wasn’t going to happen according to Linda, and she was right. We never had guinea pig the entire trip. Maybe next time. In your dreams Bob, in your dreams. When I would bring it up she responded with how could you possibly eat something the kids had as pets. I say to her, you had pet chickens, why to we eat chicken. All I get is a glare that says – Don’t Go There! Wanting to enjoy the years ahead, I don’t.

Time for a bus ride up the side of a mountain that was switchback after switchback.

Our destination.

We were told we were lucky coming in the off season as the crowds were quite small. I can’t imagine what it must be like in the summer when all of North America and Europe visit.

From the entrance it is only a few steps until we were looking at ruins. It happened so fast and there are a lot of people stopping and looking, the result of which i forgot all about taking a photo, not that there was much to photograph. Just being caught up in the moment of actually being there was enough. Later we did start taking photos, but since you are right on top of everything, the images are more in your face than a sweeping view. I also forgot about camera settings. Something you’ve been looking forward to for decades can do that to you. Awed Bob and Linda. We were really, really there!

I have no idea what I was taking a photo of. Maybe I deleted it? It wasn’t of any of the ruins, that is for sure. Just got it! It was a brief, very poorly shot video of what Edgar was talking about. Befuddled Bob.