Machu Picchu and recent activities!

Hello,

So in the last few days we have met up with my friend Jack who has been travelling on his own from Lima. We had a party at the Loki hostel and met some lovely people. However, the next day I was pretty ill. Well, that's an understatement!! But I soldiered on worse for wear! We were leaving for Machu Picchu that morning... The car journey was interesting. I did have to stop for air a few times! We then stopped at a quaint little village where the train station was and saw some inca ruins and had ice cream. When the train arrived it looked like a blue tin can full of benches.  However,  somehow we ended up in the luxury carriage which had plush seats and air con! The train ride was beautiful but I struggled to stay awake as it was so soothing. Today, we woke up at 4.10am to trek up to Machu Picchu and the lost inca city. It took us two hours in the dark and the rain. It was steep uphill steps the whole way! I felt like my lung had been punctured! While the other two keen beans strode ahead. But when I finally made it to the top after being sick because of the altitude/my unfitness. The view was spectacular. We hiked even further up to the top of the mountain to the sun gate which is at the end of the Inca trail between Machu Picchu and Cusco. So early in the morning the view was foggy but it cleared up by lunch time and became quite
sunny. We were huge tourists and took so many photos! We decided to get the bus down as it was starting to rain again. So now we are in this cute little restaurant called Inca Feliz where the food is amazing! We are on our way back to Cusco tonight before heading to Bolivia tomorrow!!

Lots of love,

Clementine x

First Few Days

Hey,

So the flights were pretty awful. I didn't sleep at all on the 10 hour flight to Miami. Which was brutal and the transit in Miami was something to behold. Only one food shop open and little all else. I also has to get a train to my terminal which was pretty intimidating. However, my flight to Lima wasn't too bad - I slept the whole way. This did mean I was pretty sleepy in Lima airport which resulted in me nearly missing my flight to Cusco as I was asleep!! My Cusco flight was crazy. The weather was awful and the pilot got lost! So we were circling round cusco for an extra 20 minutes. Once I had waited what felt like forever to get my bag, I made my way out into the sunshine to see Gee's lovely face waiting for me! It was very much a Armagedon moment. The bit where they sing Jet Plane. But now Thelma and Louise are reunited. We made our way to the Loki hostel where we are staying and settled in. We met this lovely girl called Christie who has been travelling for a month already and is from Santa Barbra (I can't spell). She is so nice. I got a bit of altitude sickness last night and was really out of breath (it could just be the fact I'm so unfit). So there was no alcohol on the agenda last night! But today Gee has been showing me around Cusco and we have gone to all these cute cafés and shops. I have already bought some Alpaca jumpers - so warm!! Now I'm just having some carrot soup in the indie cafe called The Meeting Place. And im about to get my hair braided - so mature. I hope you're all okay.

Lots of love,

Clementine x

Hello, Salut, Shalom, Ciào, Hola, Hallo, Privet!

Hey,

This is my very first blog post, of what I hope to many over the next 8 months, so don't judge! This is primarily a travel blog but also a diary of sorts for my travels. I begin tomorrow morning by flying from Heathrow to Miami, Miami to Lima and Lima to Cusco in South Peru. It's a long way and to be honest I'm a little bit scared. However, when I land on the other side I know that a life changing experience awaits and that I won't come back the same. I am definitely going to miss my friends and family a overly large amount but I know that the time that lies ahead will be some of the best in my life. So on that note... here I go!

Lots of Love,

Clementine x