M
y love affair with Machu Picchu started when I was in my mid twenties whilst working with an American airline to promote the richness, diversity and beauty that Central and South America has to offer. Hours of putting brochures and ads together to promote this part of the world meant that the iconic image of Machu Picchu was imprinted on my soul early in my adult life. Even before “bucket lists” were derigueur I knew Machu Picchu was on my list. My desire grew in my 40’s when, having just had my son, my amazing 74 year-old Dad announced that he was going to walk The Inca Trail. Something he had always wanted to do. Some families may have wanted to talk him out of it at 74, but given the same man took up tennis at 60, skiing at 65 and paraglided at 70, we knew he would do the trek regardless of what we said.
My Dad believed in the power of “want to” that is, if you really want to do something, nothing will stop you. So feeling incredibly proud of him, I wished him well on a journey that I would have dearly loved to have done with him. My Dad passed away in 2013 at 82 having lived a healthy and full life following his heart and his dreams – the loss is still immense. One of my most treasured things I have is his diary of The Inca Trail trek, a detailed account of his gruelling physical and emotional journey through the testing 4 days to Intipunku , The Sun Gate, the entry point to the mystical city in the clouds. So, last October I finally set out on my own personal journey to follow in his footsteps and walk The Inca Trail, to give myself the gift of time and a connection with a place that I know he adored and also put a massive tick against one of my earliest bucket list destinations. pilgrimage a journey or search of moral or spiritual significance Like any pilgrimage part of the journey is in the planning and preparation. Re-
searching the best times to travel, companies to travel with, equipment needed etc. But finally once the precious Inca Trail pass was purchased (in 2002 Unesco restricted the number of passes released to ensure the preservation of this World Heritage Site) there were just a few more months of training as well as raising money for my Dad’s favourite charities. Finally the day came and I set off with many mixed emotions: Excitement, at the prospect of walking in my father’s footsteps and finally seeing the mystical Machu Picchu. Fear, of the dreaded and rather random altitude sickness. Anxious, at leaving my husband and son for the longest period since our son was born. I am definitely not an adventurous spirit by nature more of a luxury junkie, so this whole experience was definitely taking me out of all of my comfort zones. My anxiety was further fuelled at checkin when the stewardess stated “ didn’t some famous DJ walk The Inca Trail and die!” so