Andean Explorer. Cusco to Puno Fri 30th Sept

Up early and ready to be picked up by a guide, despite wake up call being overlooked. Looking forward to, albeit with some apprehension, a ten hour train trip on the Andean Explorer. Our pickup arrived around 7.00 am to take us to the station. On arrival and within minutes we were on the train,our luggage was taken care of and we were seated in two lounge chairs(bolted to the floor)and our own table. We remet several of our prior travelling companions and away we went,right on time at 8 oclock. For the first twenty minutes or so the train picked its way through some of the poorest and dirtiest housing areas of Cusco, a real eye opener. The river alonside the rail track was not so big but it was choked with litter, consisting mainly of plastic bags and plastic drink containers. Once we cleared the city it became more rural and the river alongside became a bigger, cleaner river, flowing in the opposite direction. This river was to stay with us to about the halfway and highest point of the trip, from where it emanated. At the highest point, La Raya,4321 mts we were allowed a ten minute break, to wander around.