May 9

There’s walking pace. Then there’s “Mackey” walking pace. And then there’s “Anthea’s on a mission to get to Machu Picchu” walking pace. 

I’d been surprised at how well my body had held up to the hiking. Apart from having to tape some of the toes on my left foot  I woke up each morning feeling mostly ok. I attribute this to our guide pacing us well with regular stops, and possibly the altitude slowing us down. 

But not today. 

Today we had to be up at 330 am. We had to be up early so the porters could pack up and be on the 530 train. The trail did not open until 530 and so we had to wait. Our guide chose not to have us wait at the gate but to only go down there as it was opening. 

Thus we started the last leg to Machu Picchu at the back. 

Our guide did tell us we could walk at our own pace and, should we wish to pass, just say “On your right” and to do so. 

This Anthea set out to do.

We had quickly passed maybe 100 other hikers when we got caught behind an American group that were sticking together and not passing. Nor letting others pass. When an opportunity to pass came, one of the group kept stepping out to block Anthea from doing so. So she deftly cut on his inside, whereupon he stuck out his walking stick to try and trip/stop her. 

A minor international incident may or may not have ensued. 

I’m not sure what the intention was. Maybe they were worried we’d steal it if we got there before them.  

Yada yada, both Thea and I made it past the group and pressed on. 

Eventually to (what we realized later was) the Sun Gate we arrived.

It was already becoming pretty crowded and Machu Picchu was, well, just there, so we continued on down.

It was then that the benefits of Thea’s hustle (and chutzpah) became evident. We had the benefit of at least half an hour (at what we learned was the Guard House and not the Sun Gate), almost on our own. 

The light and stillness during this time was just magical. 

It is a time and experience that will stay with me. 

Why do I keep going on about the Sun Gate? Well we may or may have not been told to wait at said Sun Gate. We discovered this quite surreally when a random guide from another group turned to Jason and said, “Are you Jason?” To which he was handed a cell phone. On the other end was Wilson our guide asking, “Where are you?”  

And thus we learned we weren’t at the Sun Gate.

No harm done. The group photo happened soon after.

Yes this was also when we learned Machu Picchu has cell service. 

The Incas have everything covered.