Well, well, it has been some time. I’m currently typing this entry from my pal’s place in San Francisco in the US, and it has taken me some time to get reliable and prolonged internet access. Let me continue my story on Maccu Picchu, and describe the events of day three of the Inca trail. As always, the group was up at the crack of dawn for another healthy and filling breakfast. The group was slightly lethargic after such an exhausting walk the day before. Joints started to groan after the first few minutes as we made our way up a steep incline to the Inca outpost of Runkuray, which had been visible from out campsite.
After some quick group photos and a quick-guided tour by Roberto, the group set off again up another set of stairs to the top of the ridge. The rain began to fall. The trail was quite crowded, and I was left at the rear, stuck behind some slower trekkers. Steve and Moss were some way ahead along with Kit and Dave. Indulging in some coca, I ran behind some porters (which people politely made way for), and I was soon able to make it over the ridge. Instead of a nice and easy walk to the next set of Inca ruins, I was greeted with a steep decline across wet rocks – it would be easy to slip and do you some serious damage. The going was slow and slightly treacherous is the wet, and very hard on the knees. At one stage, I was all on my own, and I thought, easy prey for lurking pumas! Fortunately, I wasn’t eaten alive, and after an hour of walking pretty much on my own, I made it to the impressive ruins of Phuyupatamarka. Trekkers are required to mount some extremely steep and dangerous stairs in order to make it up into the ruins, which are made even more dangerous by wet weather. I finally had caught up to the other boys, and Roberto (our guide) gave us a quick talk and tour of the ruins.
By this stage, it was about 11 am, and the group made our way down to a small campsite for an early lunch. Roberto informed us that we had an easy few hours walking until the final campsite. Several hours of walking, and several Inca ruins later (including a great detour to these marvelous terraces with an incredible view into the valley below). The day three campsite at Winay Wayna allowed us the luxury of showers, in which most trekkers indulge. My feet were in quite a state after three long days. The porters cooked up quite a feast accompanied by several flaming hot whole chilies. Steve ate a full one and nearly destroyed his taste buds. We shouted the guides some beers, and I finally learnt the immortal traveller’s card game ‘shithead’ (which would end up killing idle time in many more future adventures). We said goodbye the porters, who had done such a great job, with handshakes and a few ‘huzzah’s’. We had to be up at 4am for the final trek to Maccu Picchu. Sleep was valuable.