Around the World for the 1st time [Day 17] Aguas Calientes

Walking around the town

Tourists who climb Machu Picchu always enter this village. Thanks to these tourists, the village is prosperous, and there are many souvenir stores. There is also a post office. Since I was going back to Cusco today, I walked around the village until it was time for the train. When we went to the upper stream of the river that runs along the village, we found a hot spring facility. I heard that it was too warm to be called a hot spring, so I did not go in. There was also a massage parlor, but I laughed at the strange Japanese sign. They must be pro-Japanese. I am glad to hear that. The seats on the green bus to Machu Picchu were quite narrow and claustrophobic, so it was quite hard for me.

Mermaid bought many souvenirs and sent them to Japan from the post office. Although not pictured, coca tea is available in South America. There are always coca leaf tea bags in hotel lobbies and airport lounges, and they are delicious! Indescribable sweetness. No sugar or anything else is added. In some places, dried coca leaves are left as they are. Because of the high altitude in South America, coca tea is believed to be effective against altitude sickness. It is a taste you can never have in Japan. It is a pity that coca leaves are illegal in Japan, so you cannot bring them back home.

Nothing to do, nowhere to go, and too much time at the hotel

I was able to spend a good amount of time in the morning exploring the city and shopping, but there is nothing to do in the afternoon. There was nowhere to go. I had no choice but to search my luggage for a kindle to read… I forgot it in the large luggage I checked in at Ollantaytambo! I thought I was stuck… but then I found my iPod. I wasn’t in the mood for music, but…oh well. So I just listened to music.