Train To Machu Pichu

Hiram Bingham never took a train ride like this. Picture a bright blue shiny brass white tablecloth and flowers train coach peopled with a high strung crowd of rallyers  primed with champagne and pisco sours heading to one of the seven wonders of the world. Add a glass enclosed bar car with a live band, magnificent scenery, a raging river and  high altitude. Eat and drink the morning thru cappuccinos, croissants and a three course brunch with wine, then board a bus for the climb to Machu Picchu. 

Steps, lots of steps in the hot sun. Wait for it. Pow! The world famous view. Chuck and I slipped away from our guide to wander alone, reliving our last magical visit here. That time, with shaman guides, we spent a full moon night here in Quechua rituals, leaving only after sunrise.

High tea at the Sanctuary, back on the bus/train and with our table mates, first into the bar car. Strike up the band! The girls, then the guys, managed to convert three feet of open space into a sing along and "Think You Can Dance" frenzy.

The staff managed to herd us back to our tables for a five course dinner..with wine! Fun not over yet. Huge thunderstorms, sheets of lightning. We turned off our table lambs to better enjoy the show. When Chuck decided to unscrew a wall bulb the fuse blew and our car was plunged into darkness! We cheered. Soon fixed, we dined abundantly serenaded by strolling pan pipers. 

The arrival train station lost power so we boarded our hotel bound buses by flashlight, full, slightly Inebriated, dead tired and delighted. A truly glorious party among the Inca gods.

Pam

Inca Rally Train Ride Full Feature Movie! 

Back to Cusco/ Bar car before dinner:

Re-visit the train ride with it's Movie trailer here:

Puno to Cusco

photo by Gerard Brown

One might think Sunday morning early would be an ideal time to slip out of town. Surprise! Compress the largest market in India onto ten kilometers of the smallest possible dirt roads, infested with five lanes of every known method of transportation, ten thousand people, a few thousand dogs and seventy anxious rally teams running on the clock. The chaos overwhelmed to the point we collapsed into wonder and enjoyment.  

Our wind burned and blood shot eyes drank in the increasing verdant valleys as we climbed through the mountains to Cusco. Planted forests of eucalyptus trees and lush fields of corn and beans line terraced hills.

Our fancy hotel is in the historic district, our cars are in a garage miles away and we look forward to a very special train trip in the morning.   Click here for a great Day 22 Rally Report by Syd Stelvio

An excellent lunch spot today at a time control in Feliphon

Made it to Cusco!

Peruvian Wedding!

After a regularity we came tearing around corner into a little high altitude Peruvian town and ran smack dab into a wedding celebration!  One of the most remarkable things imaginable ! All the cars stopped and we all started dancing. 

"The grinning groom and blushing bride got to sit in Keith Ashworth's Bentley and posed for countless pictures as a band struck up a rousing tune. Sadly we had to leave before the 'la hora loca' but not before everyone had wished the happy couple all best wishes for the future." Rally Report by Syd Stelvio

Photo by Gerard Brown

Inge Willemen and Anton Gonnissen

Paul Carter

Lars Rolner and Annette Rolner

Three days so barren monkey wept. Now back into fertile valleys. Rice, sugar cane, many potatoes being harvested now, celery, watermelon, delicious tomatoes. Lunch Stop, Monkey Hungry! 

Our Hotel: Party in car park tonight!

Evening view from our room over Lake Titicaca

Fang Tracker click here

Peru Bored..er

Finally in Peru, after a very long five hours at the border, due to computer issues. 

Finally, into Peru, only gaining back two of the hours with a time change, we enjoyed a very swift race track, lovely but hungry drive along coastal cliffs, good fried chicken with local rice and potatoes at 5PM on our Chile stomachs. Nightmare trip on truck route to cute go kart track. Lots of city traffic to fine old hotel. . We are tired and so glad diner served as buffet. Arequipa very old with massive cathedral and mansions.
Pam

Autodromo Tacna "world's friendliest circuit" Syd Stelvio 

Kartodromo Mostajo ‘a driver training school’ Syd Stelvio

Fang's Live Tracker Click Here

Humberstone

Humberstone, A True Ghost Town:

Once a thriving Saltpeter mine, now a ghost town and museum, Humberstone was "Originally founded as the "Peru Nitrate Company", establishing the works of "La Palma". Both works grew quickly, becoming busy towns characterized by lovely buildings in the English style. 

The Saltpeter industry transformed the lives of many Chilean people and sent them to war over "White Gold"

In the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, almost all the saltpeter in the world came from the Atacama Desert.

• Saltpeter is also known as 'white gold' and was in huge demand in the industrializing countries of Europe, which needed fertilizer to help grow food.  More Nitrogen industry info click here

• Humberstone was one of dozens of saltpeter towns, all of them stuck out in the vast and inhospitable Atacama.

• In the early 1870's many of the other saltpeter towns belonged to Bolivia, although most of the companies that operated in the area were Chilean, backed by British investment.

• In 1878, Bolivia increased their taxes on saltpeter and within weeks Chile and Bolivia were at war.

• The War of the Pacific lasted four years and claimed thousands of lives but eventually the Chileans won.

• When World War I broke out, the British blockaded exports of saltpeter to Germany which prompted the country to look for alternatives for the commonly used product.  

• The invention of a synthetic substitute that could be used to make fertilizer was one of the major reasons behind the collapse of the once flourishing industry.

One of the few remaining locals: 

Monkey: "I can conduct from here"

Teams are reorganized and going for gold. - 

We were back from lead just 16 seconds last night. Paul took a long cut on track today so we have some time to catch up. 

Monkey will help! 

Introducing team mates: 

Car 12: Paul Kirkham(AUS) / Mariella Kirkham(AUS)1934 - Ford 40 B Tudor

Car 62: Richard Martin(GB) / Travis Cole(USA)1972 -Datsun 240z

Waiting to have out tickets punched:

 Ed Mowle and Paul Carter

Monkey: "I love the wind in my hair!"

Monkey's Day Out:

Fang Leaving Humberstone:               

Thank you to David Garrett for Video!