Day 8: Training day

Train transfer... yes!  The Versly and Tyndall’s are huge fans of trains and today’s experience on the Peruvian Rail train from Puno to Cuzco was spectacular.

Jorge met us at 640am and expertly accompanied us from the lobby to a waiting van to the main train station in Puno, where he checked us in and handed us our boarding passes.  From there, a uniformed usher took the eight of us and showed us to our car and our two groups of four seats (of course grouped by adults and kids!).

Our main service guy, a serious middle aged man named Sammy would take care of us on the 10 hour journey up to the top of the climb in the middle of the Andean high plateau, and down into Cuzco.  Throughout the day we had drinks, tea, water and snacks served to us, and a three course gourmet meal for lunch with a full complement of silverware (eat your heart out Air Canada!).

Once in the morning and again in the afternoon, there was a fashion show in the bar car and observation car (that featured fellow viewing windows and an open air rear to take some quality pictures and get your face in the wind!), followed by dancing and a small three piece band. 

 




There were welcome drinks featuring pisco sours and little dried corn and banana snacks.

Beyond the amazing service and ambiance of the train itself, the terrain was pretty spectacular.   We started off in the same upper plateau terrain, first passing through the contraband town (where we actually passed directly through the market that must have stretched over two kilometres and had pretty much everything you could think of) then into open countryside.

After a few hours we began to climb and we got into snowy mountain territory.... beautiful.   At the high point in the trip, at close to 4,400 meters above sea level, we stopped and got out to stretch our legs and were accosted by a handful of local women selling everything Alpaca.  I say accosted, but really the Peruvians have been very laid back and not in your face all trip.   These ladies just had the pressure of knowing they had less than 10 minutes to peddle their wares.   Some of the stuff was pretty irresistible... I even heard a kiwi couple come by us with the husband muttering “I had no inTEENtion of buying anyTHEENG” as he was draped with a brand new sweater and scarf.... lol.

The kids were great, playing cards and chatting most of the day.   Alex and I managed to dominate Kim and Beth at Euchre 4-1 lifetime to date (up 8-3 in game 6 in case you forgot ladies) in between reading and landscape gazing.

Right on time, we rolled in at 5:50pm just after sunset and as we’ve come to expect, were met and expedited to our hotel in the heart of Cuzco.  More on Cuzco tomorrow, but suffice it to say, it was the heart of the Incan empire, the first main touch point for the Spanish conquistador influence and the gateway to Machu Picchu so we are all pumped to be here.

We had a hankering for Indian and found a legit Indian place steps from our hotel that was fantastic!   The real Indian chai after dinner was.... oh, I’m drooling on my iPad.  

The kids headed back to the hotel while the adults strolled uphill to the Plaza de Armas.... fantastic.   We can’t wait to explore this city!