January 31, 2011 - February 1, 2011
Aguas Caliente overnight, shopping day, train back to Cusco
We spent our one night in Aguas Caliente in a really nice hotel, Hatun Inti. They ended up giving us an upgrade to stay here because our luggage had been sent to them instead of the other place we were originally booked to stay. The upgrade included a jacuzzi, fireplace (but no firewood) and a dizzying view of the Urubamba River outside our 4th floor window. We took advantage of the jacuzzi after a tiring day of climbing - our legs were nearly ruined at the ruins. The loud rushing, tumbling river sounds put us right to sleep.
The next morning day it rained. No surprise. We didn't take a dip in the local hot springs but did what all good travelers do when it rains in a small town: Sleep late, eat, and shop.
We ended up having breakfast with a woman from Melbourne, Australia who'd been in our tour group. Melbourne's a place Hoyt's lived and worked in before my time (we've been married only 8 years) but I got to visit it with him a few years ago. Great city.
To us, meeting fellow travelers is part of the joy of adventures like this. Our new Australian friend was a Catholic lay person associated with the Augustinian order so we had an interesting conversation about religion and in particular social justice, which that order concerns itself with in its work in the world.
After eggs, ham, toast, fruit and as much Peruvian coffee as I could drink to get going, we headed out into the rainy Aguas Caliente day. The town lies along the rushing Urubama River and its main activity is ushering in the trains and buses for folks going to and from Machu Picchu.
A large market afforded us plenty of choices for buying gifts and momentos. Thankfully, it is covered by a sprawling roof so it also offered shelter from the on and off showers.
Restuarants as well as hotels and shops line the main street. We ate a Peruvian version of pizza for lunch and hung around the hotel lobby until the train came.
Travel tip: Bring a good book to read or a journal to write in while you hang around in hotel lobbies waiting for trains. Or postcards to address and send missives to friends back home. For reading on this trip, I threw in my smallest most interesting paperback that would fit in my daypack: George Orwell's 1984. Can't remember how many times I've read this already but it's fresh every time. Must say it's quite relevant for today, but I won't turn this into a political blog, or have I?
Next post: Unexpected train experiences on way back to Cusco.
Aguas Caliente overnight, shopping day, train back to Cusco
We spent our one night in Aguas Caliente in a really nice hotel, Hatun Inti. They ended up giving us an upgrade to stay here because our luggage had been sent to them instead of the other place we were originally booked to stay. The upgrade included a jacuzzi, fireplace (but no firewood) and a dizzying view of the Urubamba River outside our 4th floor window. We took advantage of the jacuzzi after a tiring day of climbing - our legs were nearly ruined at the ruins. The loud rushing, tumbling river sounds put us right to sleep.
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| From our little balcony in Aguas Caliente. Photo by Charlene Lamy Edge |
The next morning day it rained. No surprise. We didn't take a dip in the local hot springs but did what all good travelers do when it rains in a small town: Sleep late, eat, and shop.
We ended up having breakfast with a woman from Melbourne, Australia who'd been in our tour group. Melbourne's a place Hoyt's lived and worked in before my time (we've been married only 8 years) but I got to visit it with him a few years ago. Great city.
To us, meeting fellow travelers is part of the joy of adventures like this. Our new Australian friend was a Catholic lay person associated with the Augustinian order so we had an interesting conversation about religion and in particular social justice, which that order concerns itself with in its work in the world.
 |
| Hotel Hatun Inti midway on left, Charlene Edge standing outside. Photo by Hoyt Edge |
A large market afforded us plenty of choices for buying gifts and momentos. Thankfully, it is covered by a sprawling roof so it also offered shelter from the on and off showers.
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| Shoppin' momma - Charlene Edge in Aguas Caliente Photo by Hoyt Edge |
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| I know I look fat, but honest, the pooch is the four layers of shirts, money belt, and passport pouch on my pant's belt that makes the bulge. Nothing to do with the big breakfast, I swear! Photo of Charlene Lamy Edge by Hoyt Edge |
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| Rain on everyone in Aguas Caliente Photo by Charlene Lamy Edge |
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| Main drag of Aguas Caliente Photo by Charlene Lamy Edge |
Travel tip: Bring a good book to read or a journal to write in while you hang around in hotel lobbies waiting for trains. Or postcards to address and send missives to friends back home. For reading on this trip, I threw in my smallest most interesting paperback that would fit in my daypack: George Orwell's 1984. Can't remember how many times I've read this already but it's fresh every time. Must say it's quite relevant for today, but I won't turn this into a political blog, or have I?
Next post: Unexpected train experiences on way back to Cusco.
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