You're welcome. I enjoyed your video, SusanInToronto!

sdtravels, I find that I do pretty well if I will just take it easy on the first day at a higher altitude, and let someone else carry my luggage! Advil comes in handy for headache especially if you take it at the first sign. I never did take the Diamox but had it on hand in case, and I have been as high as 5,000 meters. I don't ever tend to get nauseous though.

I think older people do better! They know better than to run around, drink, and over do it. Plus apparently our brains have shrunk a little so that helps with the headache.

We stayed in both Ollanta and Aguascalientes (Machu Picchu town) and agree that it's not essential to stay overnight at MP. Other than wanting to be there several days or maybe for sun up or sun down. We ended up staying in MP town because we met some local people but for the most part, it's not terribly interesting down at the bottom, IMO.

Ollantaytambo though has a lot to offer as both a base and as a place to walk and explore - including the backstreets of the town itself. Just checking out how the water system and the houses work is kind of cool. We were in a small hostel in the center of town and it's all very walkable. You could arrange taxis to go to anywhere else in the SV from there.

We came into Cuzco by bus from Arequipa, so that might have helped us acclimate, but we never ended up with altitude problems. (30's-40's couple w/ 2 year old)

My video? migb, I think you have me confused with someone else. I haven't made a video, nor am I aware of being in one!

I guess I am confused. I will have to go back and see who did that!

It was live42day (and her name isn't even Susan!)

If you haven't seen it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4Mm...ature=youtu.be

Great video! Thanks for sharing.

migb, that is hilarious!

Ok, here is a different perspective - from someone who looked forward to seeing Machu Picchu since I was a child. I wanted as much time as possible at MP. Yes, we had an initial 4 hour introduction with a guide - but it was just an intro. We spent two nights at the Sanctuary Lodge so we had three entrance days to MP. It was the right amount of time for us. We are temple addicts - a full week at Angkor, two visits to Bagan with a total of 5 full days, you get the picture.

The rooms at the Sanctuary Lodge are smallish, but the service and the food are fabulous. The price for the room is all-inclusive - all your meals, wines, Pisco sours, etc. Is it worth the price? Only you can say. We certainly didn't pay the list price, and we took the Hiram Bingham train as well. We felt we got our money's worth.

The distances in the Sacred Valley are long, so if you want to see some other sites in the valley, you will need a car and driver. I thought the sites in the Sacred valley were well worth the time.

Click on my name and you'll find my trip report from last month. Photos are at www.marlandc.com

We did have some problems with altitude sickness, despite doing everything "right." It really isn't predictable who does and who doesn't get altitude sickness.

Have a wonderful trip!

mlgb, Thanks for posting the link to Debbe's take off on the "Where in the world is Matt" videos - I hadn't seen hers.