Habizabi

 During the peak of the Inca Empire, many steep paved routes were built as a system of highways throughout the empire for the chasqui runners of its ruler (the eponymous Inca) to travel on. If people mention “the” Inca trail, they are referring to the most famous one of all – the paved path leading to the famous Machu Picchu, an Incan city perched on a mountain top high in the Peruvian Andes. Since I was a child and heard of Machu Picchu, I wanted to hike along its famous and difficult trail. The city has a mysterious appeal to it – having remained hidden from the Spanish conquistadores, it was unknown to Europeans (though not to locals!) until 1911 when Hiram Bingham “discovered” it. Even today, the city (and its neighbouring modern town Aguas Calientes) are extremely isolated – you arrive there by train or on foot, not by road. Finally, a couple of years ago, I was able to achieve my lifelong ambition. This was an amazing trip, but it was a good few months after I got back before...