Day 18 – Indoor Waterfall
Well, early start and on the 4 hr trip to Agua Calientes, the wee town which exists solely to support Machu Picchu. Cramped train but it afforded a unique view of Peruvian culture which consists apperently of getting up at 0600 on Sunday morning to play football in every town along the way. Still not sure why the population rises so early. Lovely trek through the Sacred Valley with the landscape changing to humid jungle mountains as we neared our destination.
Against my better judgement, I had booked with an agency who would provide my hotel and guide. As I ascended to my dank room which smelled of mold and sounded of construction hammering, I figured the promise I was given of a hot shower would make it worth it. Took a quick gander around town and returned to the room to make it an early night so I could make sunrise at the top of the mountain. In my cramped shower/toilet stall, I was basking in the fact there was pressure and the temp was perfect, warm and controlable though, looking back, I should have recognized a problem when the rubbish bin went floating past. I stepped out of the bathroom, sans contacts, into a big puddle. Huh…I all too soon realized my entire room was flooded due to the shower drain not functioning and all my worldy contacts were steeped in inches of water. It got more interesting as I was scrambling to get dressed and opened the room door to the sound of a waterfall. All the water was cascading from under my second floor bedroom door onto the first floor balcony. As I peered over people were strategically placing buckets to catch the waterfall! I soon realized, my ability to spek spanish disipates exponetially with my anxiety level. Aghh! Dry towels! A Mop! were not commands in my vocabulary. The staff were less than helpful and refused to move my room, dry my things etc. I was cranky and just wanted to get to bed for my early start so I caved and slept in my waterhole looking forward to the next days sights.
Tags: Travel
dunlewey
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