Today was all downhill, which was murder on my IT band. At least the first part of the day was through some beautiful, beautiful rain forest where thousands of species of orchids are known to bloom. If you went slowly enough and looked around, you could occasionally see ones growing along the trail, next to hanging moss and occasional holly. The slopes beside the trail were steep and filled with clouds, making you feel like you were walking along the edge of the world.
I had some walking sticks purchased precisely for the purpose of crutches at the downhill spots, which served me well here on Day 3. At times I would have to descend one at a time, creating much more work on my right quad, which has already been taxed for having to compensate my left knee the first 2 days. Though there were times my right leg would shake with fatigue, I loved every minute of it!! It wouldn´t be fun if I weren´t pushing myself to my limits.
We briefly stopped at a ruin called Choquesuysuy before descending further to our campsite, where a hot shower and beer were waiting. After washing up, our group walked 10 minutes to Wiña Wayna, which ended up being our favourite site… and that includes Machu Picchu. I think it was our favourite because we were all able to enjoy it together, just our group, in silence. Jaime told us about his ancestors who carried the soil under our feet all the way up from the Sacred Valley on their backs to this site, where they think that the microclimates created by the levels and curves of terraces was a sort of agricultural laboratory for the Incas.
Wina Wayna 
Snow caps in background
Wine at Wina Wayna
The day before, at Sayacmarca, Jaime became visibly emotional when describing how vast and proud a people the Incas were before all came crashing down in a few years of sweeping death and conquest. Now, here at these peaceful ruins with the people who had inspired me to keep pushing and with people who I had shared jokes with, shared stories, and shared precious water, we all raised a toast with red wine (provided by Jaime!) to the incredible Incas who were crazy enough to build this intense Camino del Inka and construct such a beautiful site.
Then we went back to the campsite and bar and drank Cusqueña beer, danced the night away and went to sleep with anticipation of reaching Machu Picchu in the morning.
