Living with shackle draggers: Peru and all that...

Well, we're currently in a place called Ollantaytambo at the end of the railway line to Machu Pichu, where we had originally thought we would spend a couple of days before returning to Cusco. In the end, we've decided to spend two more days here and then go to Cusco just for the last day before we begin our return journey to Oz.

There are various pictures in this blog from here and there, people that caught my attention, colours and stuff like that...some from inside a bus going to the Sacred Valley, (with reflections) some from inside a train going to Aguacalentes before catching the bus to Machu Pichu.

The price list was for the bus up the hill from Aguacalentes to Machu Pichu...really not a long way for a bus, but a rip off price because having made the journey this far, they presumably bank on the fact that most people are not going to turn their nose up at that price...and are not fit enough or time rich enough to spend the two hours it would take to climb it...moving out of the way of the buses every few minutes. Given that places like the Science Museum and the Natural History museum in London are free to foreign visitors, we thought this was very steep (if you'll pardon the pun). But I suppose, it's a poor country, we shouldn't really baulk.

On the way back down, there was a queue of nearly 40 minutes to catch the bus back down. After we had been in the queue for 30 mins, I suddenly realised that two women were standing in front of us that hadn't been standing in front of us up until then. I waited to see if they were friends of the people in front, but they didn't seem to be interacting with them...so I asked them if they were with them. They weren't! So I said “In that case you've pushed in and you need to go to the back of the line and wait like everyone else!”...to which they reacted like they had no idea what I meant! Then an American in front of us who was pissed off about the wait steamed in and called them all sorts of names....some of them relating to the fact that they were French...and they still just stood there! Eventually, after they realised that I wasn't joking, they stepped to one side and waved us through. They then waited for about 30 people to pass, so that the line was unaware who they were and then pushed in there instead. Presumably whoever they pushed in front of felt too embarrassed to challenge them. How arrogant! We saw them smirking in the front of the line as the bus we got on pulled away. I was tempted to give them the Agingcourt archers salute but resisted.

Other socially interesting discussion points that night included the fact that at one point a British tourist and his girlfriend thought it would be a good idea if he were to do a jump in the air whilst she did a photo of him, with the vista behind. He was told in very strict terms that it was prohibited for him to jump! (Apparently because the shock of his body landing might displace the soil upon which the ancient ruins are built!) ...and another 'guide' AKA 'jobsworth' insisted that she delete the frames from her camera. Whilst this was going on, we were told that we couldn't eat the food that we'd brought. Given that we had already picked up two empty crisp packets that other tourists had discarded, I could see the logic to that...but we were told this by a 'guide' who was carrying a plastic bottle of water...(which are supposed to be banned).. In fact the place was full of plastic bottle carrying people. We had carried 4 aluminium bottles from Australia just for this day....so that was a bit rich....especially as we were asked on the way in if WE were carrying any plastic bottles. So...but apart from that...we had an amazing day. Machu Pichu is stunning.

Phoebe was very keen to get close to some Llamas if possible, and in the end was able to witness the birth of the little black thing....whilst some amorous stuff was going on at the same time (hilarious).

If you look carefully, you might notice the little cutesy little wittle llama baby ....but I bet you don't see it first. The funny thing was that all the mums had got their little kids in to see the new born...and then that happened. What's it doing mummy?

This was in a market in Cusco...

I met a few people whilst I was drawing and painting in Cusco...

This lovely old bloke did the whole 'bro' handshake thing when he left! Ha ha.

Then we went to the Sacred Valley...

These next ones are in Ollantaytambo... this was outside our hotel.

The girls kept making friends with all the dogs in the street... this one was called Rambo!

Down at the market near the ruins, this poor taxi driver reversed into a drain. Then everyone crowded around to get it out....no one wanted to hear what I had to say (stand on the back).....so we watched. Eventually they stood on the back and were able to get it out.

I tried my first selfy...I've heard that there's a new measure of vanity...selfy's per hour.

This old lady was cute....

Matilda and I found a hardware store and bought a shank of string...which she immediately started making survival bracelets with...

They have a chocolate factory here...and these were made of chocolate....!

There's a food market there too...we got Daile's shoes repaired (the soles removed, cleaned up both sides and re-stuck) for 15 Solas...which is about $7. This is a typical side of meat that you'll find in there.