(May 2) — I’m sitting here at the Inkaterra hotel in the Sacred Valley, watching a hummingbird molest a encarnada cantuta flower while I sip coca tea. This mornin we catch the train at Ollatantambo and ride to Aquas Calientes, where we’ll be a 25-minute bus ride from Machu Picchu, the high point of the trip.
Tingling with anticipation and coca tea, I’ve elevated Machu Picchu onto a sort of pedestal. I keep saying we’re going ‘up’ to Machu Picchu, and each time Hernan dutifully reminds me that in fact, Machu Picchu is at a lower elevation than Cusco and Ollatantambo.