Travel Zen - How to relax and enjoy the ride
The plan seemed simple. Take a taxi from Cusco, Peru to the ruins of Pisac, spend some time checking them out, then take another taxi to Pisac to Urubamba to catch the 7:15 PM train to Aguas Calientes, the town of Machu Picchu for my two length of stay. Train tickets in hand, I left my hotel in Cusco, the storage of my big bags there for a few days until my return from Machu Picchu as usual. The hotel, The Marquis is an excellent choice in Cusco, which offers a deluxe room with marble bathroom, large bath, large living room for about $ 100. overnight. I was also looking forward to the tub after my three-day adventure to the mystical city of Machu Picchu.Pisac a Inka (Peru Inca Inca not using) a market town and the archaeological site is about 30 minutes Cusco, at the entrance to the famous Sacred Valley of the Incas. There is a large and colorful market and local tourist every Sunday, you can read about it in all the guidebooks. I'm not a big fan of those things, but I was very excited to visit the ancient Inca fortress and buildings that are up in the hills, overlooking the city. How it was not easy. He had a backpack and then walk from the hotel for about 20 minutes trying to find the bus stop area, I had a revelation and decided not to waste time and energy to walk and trying to find the bus station, I would pay what I knew it was $ 30 + / - taxi instead of bus fare of $ 5.00. I called a taxi and found a few that accept price.Again, getting there was easy. The journey from Cusco to Pisac is amazing shrines, past and ancient monuments, and through beautiful hills and valleys, some small rural towns, but everyone. I speak Spanish and the driver pointed out many things along the way, I photographed and videotaped.When arrived in the city, which left me, although I wanted to be taken down the hill from the ruins. I guess the Cusco taxis are not welcome to do that, you need to climb the hill or take a local taxi for $ 5.00. I knew about the rate of $ 5.00 reading guides, who said not to pay more, even though they try to charge more. It took two taxis to get one to say OK. The taxi took me from the small town, the road winding along the Inca terraced slopes to the entrance to the ruins, where there was a guardhouse. I already had my $ 40. multi-site tourist pass, good and necessary for all the various ruins around Cusco. The seal and let us pass. This is where I cheated. The taxi dropped me off in a parking lot full of taxis waiting. At least 20. The taxi did not say anything or ask if I wanted to wait, that just left. I assumed it would be easy to capture only one of these taxis waiting when we were done exploring, for $ 30. taxi to my train at 7:15 pm in the evening. This was about 3 PM.So sense of confidence in the transportation, I spent several hours exploring the ruins just quietly, almost completely alone, that was incredible. Around 5:30, I began returning to the parking area, easily find a taxi waiting to take my train. I was quite surprised to see now only 5 taxis, as all the others had been waiting for the passengers who paid to wait while exploring the ruins. And the remaining 5 were all waiting for their own passengers. Meaning i was out of luck. Now there are taxis in the city below, but it was a walk of 2 miles down the slope, which now does not even have time to do it. I tried to get a taxi just waiting to bring me down the hill, and change your rate, but no. Even offered me $ 50 just for this, as I would be missing the train to Machu Picchu and ruin things up.At whatever point of panic or relax and think positive. I did the last. In my broken Spanish I explained my situation to several of the drivers. A last, I could wait until their passengers French returned, so if it was okay, I would leave. After talking, we found that their passengers are also going to Urubamba, the city just before my destination.So there I was, trapped in the mountains, possibly risking the loss of my trip to Machu Picchu, the reason I went to Peru. To add to the drama, others returned from the ruins of one on one, as the sun went down and walked to the deadline for my train. I kid not, people who were waiting were the latter, ie, there was no second chance, if they said no, I screwed.Finally, with minutes to spare, in terms of time it would take to drive to your hotel and then forward to my train in Ollantaytambo. We saw the winding road that leads back to the parking area. Arrived and, fortunately, they were great! A Belgian couple on their way to a good hotel in Urubamba, the right to the city before my people to take the train. In fact, were so kind, I said, hey you have already paid this guy far that takes us, should not have to pay anything, just an advice. I liked it, but the $ 30., I agreed to pay waiting for them, now it was a bargain. Keep calm, relaxed as I loaded the cab and started the left drive.We Pisac at 6:30 pm, arrived at their hotel in Urubamba, at 7 and my heart racing, arrived at the train station Ollantaytambo about 7: 10, walked, not ran to the door, took the ticket, got on the train, sat down, closed the doors and left the station. Again, sometimes you just have to relax and enjoy the scenery.
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