While the healthy were knocking themselves out on the Inca Trail I was amusing my self by climbing around the storage buildings on the slopes behind Ollantaytambo. The other sickly ones had already returned to Cuzco and joined me a couple of days later in Aguas Calientes. This town has some character with lots of things to do if you're at a loose end. I walked a km down to the bridge at the river and before the museum opened had a hike along the river. The museum was very modern but a bit light on for exhibits and then when I came out I was tempted by the climb up the Inca stairs to Machu Picchu.
Some demon in the back of my head whispered that I would feel better about seeing Machu Picchu if I EARNED the look. Weird demon got his way and about a 1000 steps later I was at the entrance to the fabled site. I turned right around and walked back down again, content about going there tomorrow by bus. We left at 4.30 the next morning and after getting a ticket to climb Huayna Picchu I hurried up the Inca Trail toward the Sungate without casting a glance at Machu Picchu. I managed to meet up with the trek people, including a happy Liz at the same time as they arrived(well almost!) and then turned around for my first view of this famous place.
