What a city!

Us with Neal,Orla and Naomi in the Loki hostel
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One of the highlights of the trip was always to trek to the ancient city of Machu Picchu and it was amazing. It was a four day trek and we were accompanied by a guide, porters, cooks and fellow travellers from the US, Australia and Argentina. We spent the day climbing or descending a ridiculous number of old Inca steps, getting wet and visiting Inca ruins. The nights were spent eating popcorn, drinking coca tea and being visited by the local bear!

On the final day of the trek we set off at 5am and saw our first look at Machu by 6am. On first sight it looked like every picture I had ever seen of it and so to be honest I was slightly unimpressed. However after another hours trek we were inside the city and it was then that I thought it was more beautiful and impressive then I could have imagined. The sun was out the whole place looked like it shone.

Our Machu Picchu treking group
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That evening we took the train back to Cusco. We weren't disappointed as Cusco itself is an amazing city and a most go -place for anyone. As well as being a brilliant base for Machu Picchu, there's the great narrow Inca streets, you can go crazy shopping for souvenirs, eat fantastic food at great cafes and go out and dance until the early hours in seedy but fun nightclubs. We stayed at a hostel called Loki where we hung out with  Naomi, Orla, Neal, Stan and Levi. It was so good we had to drag ourselves away! Definitely a highlight.