gringolandia

Yesterday I went to Machu Picchu. It was spectacular, far too many tourists and much too much money but incredibly impressive to say the least. I have some fabulous photos but silly me when getting my new camera in Polvos Azules in Lima told the guy that I didn´t need a cable hookup because I already had one, now I find out the one I have doesn´t work. Oooops.
I ate lunch looking down onto the ancient Incan empire from above. It was awesome. AWESOME. Although I had some moments where I thought I was going to trample all the tourists (I strongly dislike tourists) and the stupid tour groups. I made it though without pushing anyone down the mountain. Speaking of which, these mountains were the most magnificent mountains I have ever seen- absolutely massive. Bigger than anything I could ever imagine. I loved them and would never, ever want to wander off getting lost in them. I didn´t do the Inca Trail for a few reasons- none of them that solid- 1) I wasn´t feeling 100% 2) I wasn´t about to pay hundreds of $ to hike for 4 days 3) I´m not equipped with camping or hiking gear 4) I definately would´ve wandered off the trail 5) I decided in Caracas- there will be no more wandering in mountains alone. Perhaps next time, if the opportunity presents its self, I will do it with a loved one :)
Instead, quick, cheap, and easy- thats was my preference this time around. I was able to see some children practicing a peruvian dance, for free- super cool! and wandering around Ollantaytambo I climbed yet more ruins, reminisced about Venezuela while watching a local Friday night dance hearing some of my favorite tunes, and carved one of my brothers names into a nearby mountain for everyone to see for miles and miles. Among the craziness of foreigners I felt at home chatting on a park bench with a older couple from Eau Claire. I got some insight from an Argentinian lady on where to go in her country.. and from the sounds of her, Argentina is also a land of swallowed S´s.
Back in Cusco I decided to try out the nightlife and quite enjoyed myself. I went out with a fellow hostal stayer from San Antonio/Seattle and met up with my hostal friends from Huacachina just a few days back and some wonderful Norwegian girls who convinced me that Norway should be my next journey. I agree, but realistically it will have to wait for me until I am rich and can afford that part of the world.
As for now, I am off to Bolivia. By Monday morning I should be enjoying the city of Copacabana and Lake Titicaca in all its splendor, it´s beautifully cheap, cheap splendor.