Update

Heres a quick update, Im currently in Puno, just got back from a boat ride to Uros, the floating islands of Lake Titicaca, waiting for my bus to Arequipa which leaves in a few hours. Machu Picchu was a success on Saturday. There was a "rumba", aka landslide from all the rain they had been having that week which blocked the switchback road in two places. This meant the buses couldnt run and everyone who wanted to go had to walk the whole way up from Aguas Calientes. By far and away the most clogged mass of people I have ever seen.

Machu Picchu was very cool. I ended up getting a ticket to Machu Picchu Mountain, so I made the extra 1.5 hour hike up to the very top for a pretty spectacular view. I still havent sorted those pictures, but will try to put a bunch up soon.

For whatever reason, apparently the landslide meant people must be down from Machu Picchu Mountain and Huayna Picchu by 2 instead of the usual 4, even though you didnt need to leave Machu Picchu ruins any earlier than normal. I didnt mind, as I did some exploring and found out you can pretty much get to any of the terraces on the mountain you want if you dont mind doing a bunch of up and down on the stairs at various ends. There are some quite circuitous routes. It turns out they have a decent view and are a nice place for a quick nap.