Scott’s eyebrows raise as he nods his head. ‘Just got to split yourself away from it and take what you can. It’s a place of massive historical interest and pulls a huge crowd for a reason. Separate yourself from all of that and when you go in and look down remember that people built it hundreds of years ago and there’s little known about how. Great big boulders and rocks placed to make a city for the Incas. That is truly mind-blowing and never fails to win me over despite the crowds, the noise and the one-way system telling you where to go.’

‘Like Ikea?’ offers Vicky, before remembering his point. ‘Got it. Ignore all that.’

Despite the gathered strangers around us all wanting to get into the site as quickly as possible, we take Scott’s advice and soak in as much of the place as we can while ignoring the busy energy of others. Once we’re through the entrance and have made it to the first sighting of Machu Picchu in all its glory we stop and look. Even with the cloudy morning mist that’s still slightly covering it, I find it beautifully highlights just how far up in the mountains this wonder actually is. Surrounded by other mountains, which dwarf this one, making them seem like guardian angels, Machu Picchu sits calmly in the middle. Every section of the curved mountain top in front of us has been turned into what once was a habitable home, the focal point of Inca beliefs and values. From its rows of terraces below to the more structured workings of temples and what appear to be living quarters, it’s nothing short of majestic to see something of this structure and detail sitting in such a remote location – completely surrounded by nature and exposed to the elements.

Even though we visited other Inca sites at the start of the trip this feels different, suddenly; the pilgrimage people used to make to get here seems fully justified. The idea of doing something gruelling in the hope of being deemed worthy enough to be awarded entry to this place seems more than understandable.

‘We need pictures!’ I shout, reaching for my phone and passing it to Scott before pulling Mike and Vicky in close to me. ‘I fricking love you both so much,’ I grin, feeling overcome with gratitude, love and appreciation for them. We hug tighter, the bond between us stronger than ever thanks to us allowing our truths to be spoken, and our vulnerabilities to be seen. ‘And you!’ I say giddily to Scott, whose eyes are on the phone in his hands. He looks up and raises his eyebrows.

‘You love me?’ he asks.

‘We need a pic with you,’ I laugh, quickly asking one of the people walking by if they wouldn’t mind taking it.

32

Vicky