Weird train, bus, plane, taxi

Today, we take "the low road,and we'll be in Lima before yee," to paraphrase a well-known Scottish song, or at least it's well known in Scotland.

Actually, we take the train up from Machu Piccu (2000m) to Ollyantambo, and then the bus is even higher to Cusco (3500m). Most of us are acclimatised to heights, but Lennox still gets an altitude headache. Poor him, but we then take the plane to Lima, which is 1100km away and at sea level. Finally, a to the Miraflores area where we stay for 3 days.

We've been at high or very high altitudes for 3 weeks, and all of us felt it in one way or another. You acclimatise but not fully. Doing anything physical is strenuous. There are the initial headaches, and 3 of us also experienced vision problems. So going back to sea level should be a relief for all of us.

The weird train? It was a mini train, just one carriage, and just 10 passengers, 6 of whom were us. There were two stewards, one male, one female. The weird bit is those two act out an Inca love story in the train passageway. There is music and a song in English with a Peruvian accent. We try not to look baffled, and we clap at the end, but I think even the kids are thinking wtf.

Quite why they need on board entertainment is a mystery, as this valley and the river make for one of the most breathtaking journeys I can think of.Read more