Plaza de Armas
We had to leave Machu Picchu way earlier than our plan due to my daughter's sickness.
We didn't have a choice but give up climbing to Mt Machu Picchu as well with a big regret.
It was only around 8:30 am.
Straight after we bade farewell to our guide.
It was always hard to meet people, spend the whole journey of hike day and night together
and then say good byes with the knowledge I would not see them again for the rest of my life.
The bus coming back to Aguas Calientes was empty except for three of us.
I noticed a stark difference at where we stood which seemed like a life time ago.
Morning was brilliantly shining in there after a big war of event for me.
Without any trace of urgency or impatience which was emanating from people at dawn.
My group of people.
People of brilliant time were waiting for the bus to depart to Machu Picchu
with more relaxed and carefree manners.
It was my favourite time zone.
When the best vibe of morning spirits existed.
I thought...that was nice too compared to crazy morning rush.
Even though they missed the sun rise in the scene.
They missed the crazily exciting emotions.
We went back to retrieve our bags from the Hotel storage room.
We discussed our plan again and changed our train tickets to Ollantaytambo.
From there we were to get a lift from the company we were with Salkantay Trek.
We decided to get back to Cuzco earlier rather than spending more time in Aguas Calientes.
The train ride to Ollantaytambo( which was 72km northwest from Cuzco, 2792 meters above sea level)
was uneventful except I shed tears without meaning it.
The train stopped at a small station in a village where one short hunch backed grandma with a young girl
holding bunches of flowers and making obscure gestures trying to sell them to passengers.
Mountains at the backdrops were bleak and barren without much colour under the harsh sun glittering.
The weary old copper brown skins and hardship of life, no one wanted to buy their flowers didn't steal
smiles from their faces when the train started moving.
I saw them waving hands to the moving train when I felt warm tears streak down my cheeks.
I felt a sudden undefinable ache in my heart at that sight.
They might have been happier than anyone else.
Then what was the meaning for my sadness?
It was a lazy hot afternoon in the middle of the route when everybody else was dozing off near me.
Soon one staff from the train came out with this mask down below trying to show their folk dance.
Which made passengers laugh.
We came back to Cuzco by taxi organised by the company from Ollantaytambo.
As taxi neared Cuzco I could feel seriously polluted air infringe my nostrils unlimitedly even inside the taxi
and traffic congestion got heavier.
Finally exhaustion struck us as a toll after a whole day's travel ,the shortage of sleep and everything.
My daughter's sickness reached the peak point and so did her bad temper which made both of us feel
very uncomfortable and worried.
The altitude got higher and higher from Aguas Calientes(2040m) to Ollantaytambo(2792m) and again to Cuzco(3400m).
I thought I overcame the altitude sickness already but once we got there my head was floating or spinning
in the hot air.
Also afternoon stuffy air made me feel worse than ever and as night fell its temperature dropped dramatically
so we felt freezing cold on the way to dinner.
We had a relatively good sleep in our Hotel that night.
Last day in Cuzco things were getting better with almost every aspects.
Everybody was almost back in good shape health wise.
I enjoyed after-hike-fullness feeling at Cuzco the next day.
Without our hike these things never would give us pleasures though.
Leisurely woke up without any mission, had breakfast, went shopping, mainly browsing,
and sitting on the chair at the Plaza etc...
It was Sunday when I realized many shops closed...they were religious of course.
Teachers were protesting at Plaza with the police watching and regardless of this
people all over the world including us were walking around mingling enjoying warm sun rays there.
I was very happy with all the progresses of our trip.
Even though I had a severe altitude sickness and other two had food poisoning
I fell in love with South America.
I wish I would go back one day once more.