Machu Pichu: AKA Mucho Pictures

There are about A million tour agencies to help you get to Machu Pichu.  Ofthose  agencies they have about 100 different options to help you get there.  Each way cost like $500.  It was just way to overwhelming for me.  So, I came up with my own plan!  Why not make up my own tour that would let me see all the cool little towns on that way to Machu Pichu and call it ¨Lauren´s Tour de La Sacred Valley.¨  Works for me.  So here was the plan.
Day 1 Pisac
Day 2 Chinchero, Maras, Ollayntaytambo
Day 3 Figure out how to bus/walk to Aguas Calientes
Day 4 Hike to Machu Pichu
Day 5 Cusco
Well it kinda worked...
Everything went well untill we reached Oyantayambo.  The ruins in each town were wonderful.  I loved visting each town and taking in the sacred valley with just two friends rather than on a tour. To help with my knowledge I picked up a book along the way called `The Andean Codex,` about Quechua Incan Shamanism and the Sacred Valley.  That allong with my guide book gave us some reference on the significance of the areas we were trekking through.

Women sitting by the ruins at Chinchero

Local artisan near Chincero market

Moray, where they believe the Incas learned many farming practices

----
However, once we reached Ollayntaytambo our plans got rocky.  We realized we could not reach Aguas Calientes and Machu Pichu safely by car and foot and would need to splurge for the train.  Oh well!  Also we all seemed to have eaten something that didn`t sit well and took a day to rest :(

A day later we were on our way and to our relief the rest day meant we skipped the busiest and rainiest day of the week!
The following morning myself and travel companions woke up at 4AM to begin the 500 meter acent to Machu Pichu. 

 It only took a bit over an hour in all and we took a break at the top before spending the next 7 hours trekking around from the edge of the sun gate and around the entire complex, stopping whenever a prime llama picture presented the opportunity.  (Its as if they flash their eyelashes just to show you how camera ready they are).  

It may have been nice to higher a guide but there were plenty of large tourists groups to sneak into we just happened to be a bit dirtier then most of the other partcipants. All in all Machu Pichu success culminating in the best rotisserie chicken dinner I have ever had!  Kudos Aguas Calientes.

Funny little dog in Aguas Calientes that looks like our family dog Zorro!

-----
It took two more days to return to Cusco as we decided to spend another full day and night in Ollayntaytambo, liking thetown and  the hostel so much.  When we arrived an enormous fair for the towns birthday was in full swing, giving the perfect opportunity to party with the locals and try some tasty local eats like river trout, chicha (sweet corn juice), and lots of fried chicked and churros!

Then back to home sweet Cusco, my juice lady, a comfy bed, clean clothes, reliable WiFi, homemade high altitude Irish beer, and halloween.

*If Peruvians can find an opportunity to have a parade, street fair, marching band, rally, dress up, or yell scream and cheer abut something it is bound an sure to happen.  Rarely has three days gone by that I have not witnessed one or more of these things at once.  It`s great.

Another random religious celebration (couldn't understand what it was for)