Distance to Date: 6712 km, 4161 mi

The city of Cusco is a beautiful display of colonial architecture with cobble-stone plazas and gothic cathedrals. But this area is most famous for none other than Machu Picchu, an elaborate city once inhabited by the Incas.

We wander around Cusco and chilling out. Then we head to the hydro-electric plant near Santa Teresa to begin our own version of the Inca trek. Tauru wonders if we will need a guide for this trek/stroll. After all, one might lose his way... But even two blind people can follow a rail without much trouble! Crossing bridges proves tricky for Christi, who has no depth perception. Tauru displays his Vietnamese prowess - we carry our front panniers since we have no proper backpack. Hours later and the tracks wonder on. We begin to wonder how long this will take. Another hole - Christi looks on with trepidation while Tauru shouts words of encouragement. (Hurry cuz the train's coming!) There's the train. But it's all worth it the next morning as we watch the sun rise over this ancient Incan treasure. A temple for the sun sits high above this terraced homage to agriculture. Breathtaking. It all starts to become more photos of the same thing from a different angle. No wonder they worship the sun - it is intense. Corn, soy, potatoes.... the usual backyard garden. Why would the Conquistadors want to destroy all this? Would be easier to study if the Incas were still here. That's our little house on top of the hill. You have to be fit to be an Incan. You are either going uphill or downhill, always. Inca material? Aww, it's dinner wrapped in snuggly sweaters. Yup, Machu Picchu - worth the visit. Time to head back down the hill. So long, little house. The river valley below does not disappoint. Back in Cusco, in time for happy hour - I mean, dinner. The Plaza de Armas, a jewel of the Conquistadors. A new era of tourist attractions - and lovely.