Category Archives: Peru

Day 9 – Will the real Machu Picchu please stand up?

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DAY 9: Black Dog Institute Peru Challenge 2012

It was no trouble waking people up this morning. After all, we were headed to Machu Picchu – the culmination of this amazing adventure! It started with a death-defying bus ride up once again deep into the Andes. After all, Machu Picchu is the lost city of the Incas and as such, it really had to be “found!”

Unlike the rest of our Inspired Adventure, this UNESCO World Heritage site was understandably teeming with people from every corner of the globe! Still, we managed to make our way slowly to the first spot where Machu Picchu can be seen. Our guide Jamie had us close our eyes and holds hands from just behind a tree, leading us slowly out to the platform then pronouncing “open your eyes and together, see the incredible Machu Picchu!”

It was, genuinely and truly, one of the most amazing sites any of this group had ever seen. Perched magnificently at the base of a mountain, the structures move outward in a circular fashion, seemingly propped up by terraced fields carved into the side of the hilltop that cascade deep into the valley below. To think the structures were constructed some 600 years ago is simply inspiring.

After ogling and dodging other tourists for an hour or so, we continued our exploration of the site before climbing to the summit of Huayna Picchu (that giant huge tall massive mountain behind the site itself). Steps, steps, and more steps led us 400 metres up to sweeping views across the entire region, a genuine birds-eye view of one of the seven new world wonders. Simply marvellous.

After that three-hour hike we were understandably exhausted and headed back to Aguas Calientes for lunch before boarding our train then bus back to Cusco, finally reaching our hotel a little after 9pm. My, what a day!

Now it’s time for a little shopping, a little eating, and a whole lot of celebrating before our big return to the land down under!

For the very last time, GO TEAM!

Kyle Taylor
Inspired Adventures Team Escort

One final thanks to LJ (pictured below) for her ridiculous poses throughout the trip. What would we have done without you?!?!

More from the Black Dog Institute Peru Challenge 2012

Read more trip stories from Peru or visit the Inspired Adventures Calendar and find a Charity Challenge perfect for you.

Day 8 – On the cusp of Machu Picchu

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BLOG 7: Black Dog Institute Peru Challenge 2012 

“Good morning! Hot water and soap for you! Do you want tea?” This is our final morning being woken at 6am by our amazing guides Jamie and Nilo, who welcome us to the day with an offer of warm beverages and everything we need to wash up. It helps get us out of our sleeping bags despite the cold and the rain.

By 6:45 we are sitting in the dining tent and chowing down on an ensemble of Philadelphia cream cheese, peanut butter, crackers, and, today, pancakes with llamas and happy faces drawn in dulce de leche. To say we are “glam ping” (glamour camping) is a bit more accurate!

Again, we are off on our trek with blue slides above. Today is more of a cool-down following three fairly intense days of summiting numerous passes as we criss crossed Peru’s awe-inspiring Lares Valley. Still, the that of rain looms above and by snack time we are packing on the rain gear!

Another hour and we reach Ollantaytambo, the gateway to the gateway to Machu Picchu, so to speak. This is where we will board the train that takes us to the MP and my goodness, we can’t wait! After exploring the Incan ruins and having a brilliant history lesson from our head guide Jamie, we devoured yet another fantastic meal and did a little shopping in the local market.

Sadly, we also had to say farewell to our out-of-this-world camping crew, without whom we would not have been able to complete this fantastic journey. From our cook Alex to our driver Isaac, the entire team were helpful, professional, and above all else, quite funny! Each goodbye elicited a “Que se quede!! Que se quede!!!” which means “get them to stay! Get them to stay!” Believe me, I think we would if we could!

We are now on our Velodrome luxo train churning closer and closer to our ultimate goal – casting our eyes on a genuine wonder of the world – Machu Picchu! Only one more sleep to go. Hurray!

Go team!

P.S. How creepy is this mask? Thanks Lizzy!

More from the Black Dog Institute Peru Challenge 2012

 

Read more trip stories from Peru or visit the Inspired Adventures Calendar and find a Charity Challenge perfect for you.

Day 7 – It’s About The People

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BLOG 6: Black Dog Institute Peru Challenge 2012 

We awoke today to brilliant sunshine that felt like it was warming you from the inside out! Just like the past few mornings, the local women and children had set up a mini market just outside our tents. Selling everything from gloves and hats to bottled water, they have been our first point of contact in getting to know the people of Peru’s ancient highlands.

It has been a fantastic experience sharing smiles (and sweets) with kids, a few passing words in the local Quechua language with the mums and dads, and a laugh here and there with our guides and incredible support team.

If anything, this human element has definitely made the intense trekking just that little bit easier. Today we trekked for eight and a half hours, starting with a major ascent to over 4,500 metres at the peak of the mountain pass. The higher we went, the brilliant sunshine and the heat that came with it slowly became biting winds before turning into, yet again, heavy rain.

For good reason, spirits were high today. We are just two days from Machu Picchu, the crowning achievement of our epic trekking effort. In addition, that “family” feel has started to emerge. As I write, the sounds of laughter a billowing from the mess tent as the team take each other on in a rousing game of UNO.

Today we offered stones to the Inca gods for safe passage to our next top, building a pebble tower at the top of the pass. We referenced what are now countless inside jokes, poking fun at each other in ways that only family and close friends can. Above all else, we gave each other nicknames, perhaps the greatest notion of “mateship” in Australian culture. We have:

Matt – GI Joe/Commando
Abel – Aarki
Nick – Doc, from Back to the Future
Rory – Roro
Nikki – Cafe con Leche
Lizzy – Sultana
L.J. – Barbie
Emma – Moving Forward
Naomi – No Money
Emma – Lovely
Shazza – Mamasita
Geraldine – G Money
Kyle – Kiki

It’s dinner time yet again, which means we are two sleeps away from Machu Picchu! Where are we sleeping tonight? Oh, just in the shadows of Incan Ruins. No big deal

Go team!

Kyle
Inspired Adventures Tour Escort

P.S. Stack of the day goes to Geraldine, who somehow managed to collapse her chair at lunch in slow motion, slowly sliding lower and lower until she was flat on the ground. It almost defied gravity. Well done G-Money!

 

More from the Black Dog Institute Peru Challenge 2012

Read more trip stories from Peru or visit the Inspired Adventures Calendar and find a Charity Challenge perfect for you.