Day 1 of the trek to Macchu Picchu - colorful, vibrant hillsides
Our guide on the Salkantay trek, Hermo - he's the best!
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Verdi, the turkish hiking guru and real estate investor
Transitioning gradually from the lower hills to an alpine environment
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Definitely didn't pack very well - lugged over 12kg for the entire 85km trek
Lunch place on the first day
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Waking up in the morning on day 2, this was the view
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Passing through the freezing level on the way to the pass
One foot in front of the other...
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Stone towers at the Salkantay pass
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15,200 feet!
Our group bonded really well, fun and diverse bunch of people
Alan being one with nature at a family-run trailside hut
Day 3: Rainforest!
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Hermo points out a steaming geyser on an earthen bridge
My Brazilian friends Victor and Vinicius - we met in Lima originally
Eating passionfruit along the trail
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Alan and I riding on the roof of the van to the lunch spot in Santa Teresa
Mmmm, soon enough I'll get a motorcycle here
The "Magic Flower"
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Crossing a river by a hand-powered cable car
Day 4: walking along the train tracks wearing my Survivor buff
It was HOT on day 4
Lots of coffee trees growing in the forest here, some of them harvested
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Yes, it's a very active train track
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First sight of Machu Picchu after 4 days of walking
Last supper
Irishman Alan, Guide Hermo, and me
First light at Machu Picchu, 5:00am
We hiked up early enough to be at the front of the line - first ones in!
Obligatory Machu Picchu picture
Sunrise begins
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Machu Picchu just after sunrise
The masses start arriving
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Not for those nervous about heights
Hanging out with Vinicius at the top of Wayna Picchu
Amazing view of Machu Picchu and the entire Sacred Valley
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Back in Cusco: I liked this scene - Kiterunner meets the alpacas
The center of Cusco, the Plaza de Armas, seen from the Jesus statue
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Outskirts of Cusco
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Urban mountain climbing in Cusco
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Noooo! My favorite low-cost Peruvian airline grounded!
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Practicing a little bit of Spanish vocab on a park bench
Adriano and big brother JJ messing around with photobooth
Paola and my host brother Adriano at the market
Met Lulu from the Galapagos cruise again in Cusco - small world!
Plaza de Armas fountain
Merman
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The crowd outside the stadium before the soccer game
"Viva el Peru" in the background of a Cusco v. Lima match
Electrical operation to resurrect the AC/DC computer cable
View from Paola's apartment in Cusco
My host family (L-R): Paola, little Marcella, Yours Truly, and Adriano
My bus to Arequipa might have been surplus from active-duty WWII
Arequipa after sunrise
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Pigeons in Arequipa's Plaza de Armas
Beautiful architecture and surroundings in Arequipa
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Taken at one of the many juice stalls in the market
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Chivay is the gateway city to the Colca Canyon
Beautiful terraced agricultural valleys
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Hanging out with a big bird and friendly Llama
Creepy Jesus
At the Condor Cross
Colca Canyon
Awesome! Condor flying over the Colca Canyon
Go Condors!
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Volcanic scenery at 5000 meters elevation
Hike in the foggy hills to the north of Lima
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A larger fog catcher installation
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