A slight change of pace

We arrived back from our week in the wild to a rather damp and grey Cusco. We'd left a ton of stuff with our Spanish school and, due to the weather, simply crashed in the nearest hostel which boasted hot showers. Due to a slight misunderstanding we couldn't actually have a hot shower till after dinner that evening. I'd even managed this feat while engaged in an entirely English-speaking conversation... 

We made the most of a relaxing few days in Cusco by eating lavishly and, in my case, to great excess. While in this mood of extravagance we decided to book travel to our next destination not by bus but, instead, train.

It cost us a small fortune, but our jaunt in the mountains had cost us a pittance and you just have to give things a go sometimes, besides, we'd almost certainly be taking buses for nearly every other trip in South America!

Let me quote to you a little about the 'Andean Explorer':

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"Between The Pleasure & The Legend"
Enjoy the mysticism offered by the beautiful Peruvian Andean landscape aboard on our luxury train.
Riding the Andean Explorer is a unique experience, a journey between mountains and clouds, and between mountains and highlands. Ten hour train journey, which ends at the majestic Lake Titicaca and in whose path, the traveler will see the changing landscapes among mountains, rolling plains, and the various weather of the area.
The Andean Explorer involves you in an exquisitely area decorated with subtle, delicate style of the great Pullman trains of the twenties. It includes dining cars and a car-bar. The Andean Explorer is one the most of luxurious and different way of travel between Cuzco and Lake Titicaca.
Mentioned among The Best Journeys by Train of the World and one of the best two in South America (Society of International Railway Travelers) 

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I'm certainly no train enthusiast but it was a bloody great experience! Outrageous opulence, completely over the top service and generally great fun. The views were top-notch, we befriended a lovely old English couple (we must have been the only two passengers under 60), had a three course lunch, afternoon tea and were even treated to unlimited camomile tea all day (obviously).






Unfortunately all good things come to an end. In the last hour or so it became very dark and wet. When we arrived in Puno it was chucking it down, and Puno wasn't much to look at either. We donned our rain ponchos and trudged to our hostel.

Wandering around trying to find somewhere to eat in the dark and drizzle near the docks turned out to be an uncomfortable experience, surely Puno would show itself in a better light come morning?