I arrive in Lima Peru at 1:30am on Saturday, walk outside the airport to a mob of Spanish speaking men all trying to get my attention (and my money). I finally spot Jesse in the crowd and he rescues me. We are off on our adventure. We have no specific plans other than a one-way ticket to Cusco. But we have some goals - I want to hike to Machu Picchu and see the Amazon, Jesse wants to see Pink Dolphins in the northern Amazon river.
We arrive in Cusco Saturday afternoon with no place to stay and Jesse works his "spanish magic" with the local people and we find a hostel. I am immediately plagued with altitude sickness. We went from Sea Level to 11,000 feet. But I try Coca tea (made from the leaves of the cocaine plant) and it helps some. I am out of breath climbing the steep stairs and we are planning to hike for 4 days to Machu Picchu. The local people are amazing, colorful and I even feel tall for the first time in my life.
We sign up for a 4 day Inka Jungle bike/hike late Sunday evening and are picked Monday at 6am to start our journey to Machu Picchu..
We drive to the top of a mountain at 15,000 feet, mount up on mountain bikes and start descending both onroad and offroad down the mountian to 5,000 feet. The offroad is a washboard with huge holes and water running over it. It is thrilling to ride so fast downhill. We charge it but unfortunately for Jesse the offroad jarring stirs up his kidney stones and that puts a damper on his good time.
Next we meet up with a river guide who is trying to start his own white water rafting business and offers to take us down the Urubamba river on class 3 and 4 rapids to test out a new section of the river and his guide skills. We jump at the chance and have the most amazing and thrilling 2 hour adrenelin ride down the river.
Tuesday - Day 2 finds us hiking uphill on the Inka Messenger Trail.
We are with a group of young people from Japan, Israel, Ireland, Wales, New Zealand, Australia, Denmark, Holland and US. I am glad they are mostly in their 20's because I don't want to hike slow. Most of this group is pretty fit, but a few are struggling.
Next we meet up with a river guide who is trying to start his own white water rafting business and offers to take us down the Urubamba river on class 3 and 4 rapids to test out a new section of the river and his guide skills. We jump at the chance and have the most amazing and thrilling 2 hour adrenelin ride down the river.
Tuesday - Day 2 finds us hiking uphill on the Inka Messenger Trail.
We are with a group of young people from Japan, Israel, Ireland, Wales, New Zealand, Australia, Denmark, Holland and US. I am glad they are mostly in their 20's because I don't want to hike slow. Most of this group is pretty fit, but a few are struggling.
We stop at a local "rest" area in the middle of the jungle and mountains and dress up on the local clothing. Jesse is holding a baby beaver in this group photo.
I play with a monkey while we take a break
The views are amazing on our journey and the bugs are relentless. Jesse and I look like we have the measles from the hundreds of mosquito bites.
We end up at a hot springs in the middle of nowhere. It feels amazing. 
Day 3 finds Jesse sick with kidney stones and many of the group hung over from night on the town where our guide, Alfredo, was 'pole dancing' the night away.
I went to sleep early, knowing we had a full day of hiking ahead. 
We cross the Urubamba river by cable car and bridge. 
It is a long day but we eventually wind up in the town Agua Calientes. I have a sore throat and laryngitis but I am not going to let it stop me from the final day and hike into Machu Picchu.
Day 4 we leave at 4:15am and climb 18,000 steps straight up to the entrance of Machu Picchu. A few of us from the group hike it fast and we have to wait for the doors to open. Machu Picchu is amazing. The lost city high in the mountains.
We jump for joy that we have made the trek/
We come across a group of Llamas grazing in the upper part of the city.
The mountain in the background is Wayna Picchu. It is a treacherous climb to the top. All but 5 of our group have decided not to make that climb. They are exhausted
Jesse and I start the climb.
I am loving it, it is hard and just what I imagined climbing in the mountains would be. 
This is the view from top of the world 
Machu Picchu from Wayna Picchu
