Day 7: Second day at Aguas Calientes – 5.7.19

Today we had a choice to go back to Machu Picchu or to stay at the hotel. Some of our group went for the second hike while some of us choose to stay like I did. I finished my blog post from yesterday then headed out to do some shopping. It’s not easy because you have to divide the soles by three every time to figure out the amount in dollars. Then on top of that you barter which is not my strong suit.

Aguas Calientes is a town in the Urubamba Valley in southeast Peru with a population of about 4,000. It’s the last stop on the Marchu Pichu train. The Urubamba River runs through the center of the town. Aguas Calientes means “hot water” in Spanish because there are hot springs here. It is very hilly and steep. The town blossomed when the railroad to Machu Picchu was finished about 35 years ago. A lot of the construction is new which gives the town a very upscale feel.

Looking down the street from our hotel loaded with stores and restaurants.

Our hotel is built on a hill like as is everything else in the town; the layout is confusing because of all the steps to get to the different levels. My room is on level three which luckily for me was the first floor of rooms. You have to go down steps for the bar and even more steps for the restaurant and lobby, but at least there are hand rails. Machu Pichu and the town would not meet ADA compliance!

The Urubamba River runs through the town, There are bridges connecting the one side of town to the central market area.

Trish and I met up with our group for lunch at a restaurant down the hill from our hotel. Then I went shopping with first Beth and Jana and then another Joann, Scott, and Sharon from our group. There is a beautiful central market and lots of shops and restaurants.

There are dogs everywhere with no leashes just enjoying life.

There are carvings all over the town. A few years ago they held a contest inviting local artists to make carvings representing the history of this area. This is the Inca’s Father Sun.

This carving was the first place winner.

Washlines- Do you remember what they were?

Trash and recycling containers in the town are in a shape of a frog. It is a take off from a bar game here i Peru that uses a frogs’ mouths to throw wooden chips into for points..

On our walking tour we passed a soccer stadium where a game was just about to start. Peruvians love their “football”.

Outside the stadium were food vendors. We stopped for “a day in the life” experience. This stand was selling freshly made donuts called picarones. Pepe bought three of them and each one of us took a piece to try. They were sticky and very tasty, similar to our PA Dutch funnel cakes.

On our walking tour we saw children practicing a traditional dance. I think they enjoy having an audience.

For supper we went to a restaurant that had live music. A one-man band was playing Latin American music with a guitar and pipes. The manager of the restaurant treated out whole group to Pisco Sours. Which is traditional Peruvian cocktail . When the Boomba started Joann and Sharon jumped up to dance. Before you knew it Beth and several others from our group joined them. They were the life of the party!

After our dinner we returned to our hotel. We needed to pack since we were leaving at 8 am to take the train then bus back to Cuzco. Yes, I would highly recommend visiting Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu. It’s interesting and fun!

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