PERU

MACHU PICCHU, ARRIVAL. The four remaining days that it took to complete the SALKANTAY TREK continued to be long and hard, but none can compare to day one. My team performed flawlessly, in many cases, better than me. It was fun walking through primitive villages though an unexpected challenge lied before us. Landslides were particularly problematic this year, taking out many roads including one part of our trail. Our guide chose a path, and we followed. We all knew the unpredictability of the moment, often with our feet sinking in mud. We were then at a 45 minute “Stand Still” while road workers patched the road.

Shortly after that crossing, we arrived at our destination. We were to stay in HOBBIT HOUSES! There we enjoyed our own Large Room, Hot Showers, and even a Hot Tub! Our next afternoon included a long uphill climb to our camp site with wonderful lunch spot with cold drinks and a swing that cantilevered over the drop of of the mountain range. Not too long after we stopped at a camp area and got our first sight of MACHU PICCHU. It was a great spot, but not ours. We proceeded on to the site that was designated exclusively for us, and I will say, this was the most spectacular camp site I have ever experienced. We gathered at a lookout point offering incredible views of our next destination, MACHU PICCHU! I could clearly see my goal for the following day, climbing MACHU PICCHU MOUNTAIN. It sure looked intimidating from there, but I couldn’t have been more excited!

That night we enjoyed cold beer and I relaxed in conversation with my new Asian friends. While they were impressed with my endurance at 68 years old, turns out that was not what they admired about me most. They didn’t care much about my adventures to Kathmandu or Kilimanjaro. They wanted to know about my family. Being married for 44 years and having 3 great sons, and still finding so much to love in my life. They asked questions like; How did you meet your wife? How did you propose to her? Bryan even asked a question for which I had to respond, “Let me take some time to think about that one?” His question: “What should I look for in the woman that I will spend the rest of my life with?” Turns out, these aren’t early 20’s kids aspiring to be party animals like I was at their age. They were all seeking partnership with someone to start their own families. Their values and desires earned my utmost respect. I invited them to my lake house, only 4 hours north of their Brooklyn homes. I assured them we would have a fun and relaxing weekend, far from the stress of New York City life. I was honored when they accepted.

We all planned to get up early the next day and watch the sunrise over MACHU PICCHU, but were deterred by rain most of the night. In some cases, the sound pounded our vinyl fly quite heavily. The first thing I heard that morning from my tent mate Stone, was, “Rich, if this keeps up, it’s gonna Suck.” I told him I didn’t care if it poured all day. By days end we are gonna be in our own hotel room, with hot showers and surrounded by real restaurants. What mattered at that point was good weather tomorrow. I was the only one on the team that had a permit to climb the mountain and that would be a bummer doing so in bad weather, or even doing so without views.

The rain stopped and we were on our way down a Muddy, Slippery and Steep decline, with little visibility. Eventually things flattened out and the skies cleared.

Arriving at 3:00 I did not expect such culture shock. We were now in the heart of the MACHU PICCHU Tourist Mega Mecca. We received all the gear and possessions that were separated from us before the hike. We dropped off our disgusting laundry and transformed back to humans. We had a nice dinner together that featured a musician who played guitar and Pan flute that originated in Peru 5,000 years ago. My brother Gary is a retired music teacher and told me about the instrument and I found a musician in CUSCO that actually makes these himself. Never one to buy anything while away, I took the opportunity to buy one for him as the source was so appropriate. We woke up the next day to dry, but cloudy skies. ITS MACHU PICCHU TIME!