We are up early and looking for a restaurant at 6 am, without finding one we wave goodbye to a fellow biker (who was at the same hotel) on a KLR650. We're on the road at 6:30 and need to make it to Ollantaytambo, a distance of 365 km's. The ride is grueling, a second solid days of non stop turns, switchbacks, and more huge elevation changes with us traversing 4 mountains, lots of stream crossings and some sections of gravel.
No culverts used in the Andes, must be easier to let the water run over top of the highways.
The photo doesn't show the true color but this water was very red.
We stopped in Pisac for a drink at a restaurant and struck up a conversation with a couple and their two young children. They were amused at my height in comparison to the doorways at the restaurant which were only as tall as my shoulders. We gave the kids a couple of Canada pencils and before we knew it dad was handing off the baby to me so he could get a picture of us with their children.
This photo should explain the scars on the top of my head.
We are in the Sacred Valley, near Machu Picchu and plan to spend at least three nights here. The trip to Machu Picchu is one event that we've been looking forward to for a couple years. The view from our hotel room is spectacular, a view I would compare to being in Jasper or Banff. The area is super quiet other than the occasional whistle from the trains that carry tourists between Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu during the day.
The view from our room in Ollantaytambo.
Once again we find out how small our world is when at supper we meet Peter and Patricia Boulton who live less than a kilometer away from where we purchased our first house on Longbow Lake (Kenora, ON).
February 5th
We've decided not to go to Machu Picchu today and rather take a few days to rest up and acclimate to the altitude before attempting to make the hike around the ruins.
Breakfast takes an hour and a half as we have lots to discuss with the Boulton's before we set out on foot to explore the village of Ollantaytambo.
Our hotel room was outstanding, with opening windows on two sides we were able to sleep with the sounds of running water from the stream at the front of the hotel and an aqueduct on the side. I could spend the next month here relaxing and enjoying the amazing scenery.
Our hotel room is top floor, far left.
Stream in front of the hotel.
Typical buildings in the village.
This gentleman who is blind played some very relaxing music.
Not sure how long meat keeps without refrigeration but the fly's were enjoying the all day buffet.
This woman had the full bouquet hat happening.
This street was about 8 feet wide and has an aqueduct running down the one side, there are many aqueducts running throughout the village and we're told they are spring feed from higher elevations.
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Went to the markets today and the selection of items made from Alpaca wool is huge and very affordable, I just wish we had room to bring back some items. They also have nice jewellery (no, Karman, you're not getting any!) hand bags, gloves, mitts, hats, lots of hand woven items of all sizes and hand tooled leather items.
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