Thursday 14 August 1997 - Quillabamba to Cuzco

We retraced our journey back to Cuzco picking up the Machu Picchu group on the way through. There were several tero nesting in the station yard. These are lapwing type of birds which nest on the ground and make a great deal of noise if you approach them. We stopped at Allanura where the railway runs through the main street. There is an attractive witchback below Saltateresa where we stopped for orders and photos. People will wait around for the regular train and it was very much business as usual. The train crew had breakfast from a vendor on the street - it didn't look very appetizing.

Right - Allanura

Left - Santa Teresa

After Machu Picchu the valley becomes less tropical and there was the opportunity to take our time and make photo stops. At Huarocondo there was a lengthy wait for a diesel rail car coming in the other direction. There were a group of women and children sitting under the old water tank during their washing.

We arrived back at Cuzco at dusk and stayed at the same hotel. The water was good but altitude was still a problem. Dinner was at a ho hum restaurant in the Plaza de Armas.