Champagne at Machu Picchu

Day 156: Machu Picchu

Sun 29 May 2011 - Sun 29 May 2011 20 °C

I haven't lost my style completely folks. Yes, we carried some mini bottles of champagne for 45km to Machu Picchu (well Ben did, I paid a porter to carry mine instead) to toast our achievement, our 30th birthdays which were earlier this year, and not forgetting my sister's birthday which is today, happy birthday Nicki!

It's a 3.30am start on the last day, to get in the queue by 4.30am. The final part of the trail doesn't open until 5.30am, but we want to be up at the front. It's just another hour or so walking: I concentrate on keeping the pace as I don't want to be the weakest link today, Bence might get grumpy. It starts off pitch black, but as day breaks the shapes of the mountains slowly appear.

I refuse to give in as we climb the final 'gringo killer' steps, though I look like a beetroot when we arrive at the Sun Gate. But there it is: that famous first view of Machu Picchu! It's magical. We walk on a little further and stop at a good viewpoint to watch the shade retreat as the sun rises higher in the sky. Now it's time to crack open the champagne.....and find out it's a screw-top. Whoever heard of screw-top champagne?!