- I’m so excited I can’t even sleep.
- I really wish I slept.
- I hope I like these people.
- It’s too early to talk to strangers.
- I’m not sure I’ve ever been happier to get roadside coffee.
- I don’t think this coffee is working.
- Small talk is the worst, but these people seem okay.
- Breakfast!
- Oh, they bring us plates. Sorry for eating this bread like a hoodlum.
- Okay! Let’s get started!
- This isn’t so bad.
- Oh this is the easy part? Great.
- It’s quite pretty.
- We’re hiking those mountains? But they’re so tall!
- These donkeys are cool but I wish they didn’t poop all over the trail.
- I also wish I didn’t drink that coffee because now I have to pee.
- Yeah, I paid 1 sole for that bathroom stop and the toilette didn’t even flush.
- That train is taking people to Machu Picchu without hiking for four days?
- How are the porters passing us already?
- Wait, if there’s a route that takes you straight there in two days why are we on this one that takes four?
- Snack time? Yes please.
- Inca sites are SO cool.
- Let’s have someone take our picture.
- Does every plant in Peru get you high?
- I swear he said 10 minutes till lunch. It’s been 11 and I’m dying.
- Seriously!? Garlic cheesy bread!? Pumpkin soup!? Vegetarian ceviche just for us!?
- There’s still more food?!
- Is lunch always going to be this amazing?
- Wait – how did they cook this? Magic??
- That mountain valley is so beautiful.
- Was that a pig that just ran past me!?
- Why does time go slower when I’m going uphill?
- How are these porters so fast? Are we that slow?
- I don’t know that I’d call this “moderate”.
- I can’t even handle this view right now.
- I wish I didn’t eat all my freaking snacks on my first break.
- I’m really starting like our little Inca Family!
- Oh that’s the same valley I’ve been taking pictures of every single mile.
- The porters set up this entire campsite already? How is that possible?
- There is tea time!? Okay, this is totally “glamping”.
- The porters carry HOW MUCH!? We should be cooking for them!
- Seriously!? Flaming Pisco bananas foster!? I can’t even.
- This camp bathroom is actually super nice.
- OMG A PORTER CARRIED A TOILET?!
- Sleeping in this tent isn’t so bad.
- What is noise? Think that’s a bear outside our tent? We’re gonna die.
- Naw, we’re good. I’m sure it was just someone’s dog. (Whatever helps you sleep at night.)
- Oh, of course you wake me up gently by bringing me hot tea to my tent door.
- Today is supposed to be the hardest day. It can’t be that bad.
- We’re going up that mountain?
- There seems to be discrepancies in just how tall that mountain is, can anyone confirm?
- I would give 10 soles for a bathroom that wasn’t a hole in the ground. I’ll just wait till camp.
- OMG llamas! That’s fun!
- Coca leaves? No thank you.
- Okay, give me all the coca please.
- Seriously, how am I still going uphill?
- I wish I could soak in this view instead of looking at my feet constantly to be sure I don’t fall off this mountain.
- How is there still further up to go!?
- I’m hot.
- I’m cold.
- I’m hot.
- I’m cold.
- I’m pretty sure these steps are never going to end.
- I’m not saying I want to bail, but if I did, what are the options?
- Okay, if the porters can do this 3x faster and with 10x as much weight on their backs, I can do this with my tiny little daypack.
- But my legs are so sore!
- Is that still the same valley? It’s like we haven’t gotten anywhere!
- Okay, yesterday was definitely moderate.
- I wish this air had actual oxygen in it.
- WE DID IT! I AM A CHAMPION!!!
- Is it too soon to tell my Inca family that I love them?
- I literally have no idea how our porters ran up this mountain with all of our stuff and a toilet.
- It’s freezing up here.
- Thank goodness! Finally downhill!
- Oh, downhill is not better. My knees hate me.
- You don’t think that path straight up that mountain over there is the “easy” part of the afternoon do you?
- Oh it is? Cool, can’t wait.
- I have never been more excited for lunch. I can eat as much as I want because I earned this, dang it!
- And back up we go!
- You said this would be easier than this morning, but I actually feel like this just as straight up hill.
- Another Inca site! They were so busy!
- Let’s just take a selfie.
- Really though, why did the Inca’s hike our trail when they could just walk along that river down there?
- I would have been the WORST Inca. I’d have looked at this mountain and just been like, “nope.”
- Maybe not though, this view is to die for.
- There go the porters, just being incredible!
- That mountain over there? Yeah, we hiked over it because we’re badasses.
- “We beat the group to the meeting point, want to off-trail it to the top of this peak real quick?” “Uphill voluntarily? Yup!”
- I get the whole mountain thing. Being at the top is like, the coolest thing ever.
- More downhill steps – I’m basically a pro at these by now.
- But how does the view keep getting more beautiful!?
- You’re telling me I have the option to go 100 steps straight up to see that gorgeous Inca site? Let’s do it. What’s 100 more steps?
- OMG so many bugs.
- There is a bug in my eyelashes and I think I just inhaled at least 10.
- I love the things you’re telling me right now about this site, guide, but I honestly can’t think about anything other than the mosquitos crawling into my clothes.
- It’s beautiful though. I’m glad I did it.
- Right when I think the view can’t be beat, the sun sets over the valley.
- We finished our toughest day!! I’m pretty dang proud of my Inca Family.
- Of course dinner is delicious, I’m not even surprised anymore.
- I’m so ready to crawl into that sleeping bag.
- Could the “most beautiful day” really be that much more beautiful than the hike has been so far? Judging by this sunrise, it sure looks like it.
- We’ve officially walked from the dessert to the rainforest. Seriously, who can say that?
- I can’t stop touching the moss.
- Oh, these caves are fun!
- I’m really diggin’ how flat this walk is.
- This paths look like they came straight out of Pandora IRL.
- This Inca site in the clouds is LEGIT!
- If I was an Inca, there’s no way I was rich and important enough to live in this country house, but it’d be cool if I was.
- These llamas seriously just freely roam this joint?! Sign me up!
- I’m sure the view would be great if I wasn’t in a cloud right now. Not complaining, though! It’s amazing either way.
- Still a lot of steep steps for an “easy” day. I no longer believe my guides assessment of difficulty.
- Let’s just hang out in this Inca cave and wait for the rest of our group.
- I’ll just pee on the other side of that rock, it’s fine. #incatoilets
- Are these porters super humans!?
- I can’t stop taking pictures of these pathways. I’m pretty sure I’m in a storybook.
- Okay, this Inca site is SO COOL! They never stop being impressive.
- Yeah, I’m gonna need an Instagram photo from the back of me sitting on this ledge with this killer mountain view in front of me.
- Family jumping photo!? We’re officially all best friends.
- And you’re gonna give me nap time!? This is definitely the best day.
- Thanks weather for choosing this one-hour block while we were nestled in our tents to rain instead of while we were climbing up those steps.
- I’m not sure how it’s possible, but this Inca site is even more incredible and we get to play with llamas!
- Can I have a pet llama in Chicago?
- Okay, seriously? They made me a napkin swan with dinner!?
- I’ll miss my tent a little bit, but I’m really looking forward to my fluffy hotel bed back in Cusco.
- If I have to wake up at 3:30 AM, I’m so happy it’s with a steaming hot cup of coffee.
- I forget what it’s like to wear clean clothes.
- Are these even steps anymore? I’m pretty sure it’s technically a ladder now if I have to use my hands.
- WOW. That’s Machu Pichhu from Sun Gate.
- It is even more impressive up close.
- Let’s take ALL the pics. Just start a photo line.
- How did they build this!? This is the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen.
- Every step I’ve taken has been worth it for this moment.
- Guys, we did it!
- I’m really gonna miss these people.
- Wait, why is no one waking me up with hot tea delivery anymore?!
Anastasia Gordon
Thursday 20th of September 2018
Lol, just finished 4 days Inka trail few days ago... Your "135 thoughts" made me laugh and smile. You nailed it, girl! Can't word it better :) What an amazing adventure is was!!!
Emily
Saturday 22nd of September 2018
Hi Anastasia!! Aaah!!! Wasn't it just the best!? I miss Peru - it was just the best. We did the trip at almost the same time last year! How was the weather for you!? I'm so glad you could relate to this post - that makes me so happy! Happy travels!