THERE IS A VILLAGE IN THE VALLEY SERVING THE INKA CITADEL. WITH 2000 RESIDENTS EMPLOYED TO SERVE THE LARGE NUMBER OF VISITORS ARRIVING BY TRAIN EVERY HOUR. CROWDS ARE LIMITED TO 2600 PER DAY AND ACCESS IS DENIED WITHOUT A VALID TICKET AND DON’T FORGET YOUR PASSPORT. THEY CHECK.
RAIN AND CLOUDS KEPT US FROM RETURNING TO THE CITADEL ON OUR SECOND DAY. WE OPTED TO TOUR THE CHARMING VILLAGE WITH OUR GUIDE ‘BELMA’. SHE HAS BEEN A GUIDE FOR 20 YEARS AND HAS LED A NUMBER OF HIKING EXPEDITIONS ALONG THE INKA TRAIL. SHE TOLD US OF THE SPRING WHEN THE RIVER FLOODED AND KNOCKED THE TRAIN TRACKS OUT OF SERVICE FOR 3 MONTHS.
YOU MAY OBSERVE IN THE LAST PHOTO WE ARE BOTH USING HIKING STICKS. CLIMBING UP AND DOWN UNEVEN ROCK STEPS IN THE RAIN THE PREVIOUS DAY TAKES ITS TOLL ON 72 YEAR OLD KNEES.
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