Cusco to Puno

Nov,1 - Cusco to Urcos
Nov,2 - Urcos to Sicuani
Nov,3 - Sicuani to Aguas Calientes
Nov,4 - Aguas Calientes to Ayaviri
Nov,5 - Ayaviri to Puno (via bus)
Nov,6 - rest day Puno
 

I rolled out of Cusco on the 1st of November and continued moving south, it was a gradual downhill most of the way to Urcos where I stayed for the night, an hour or so after leaving Cusco it began to rain and I took cover in an abandoned building and then made it to Urcos in the early afternoon. The next day I had to contend with more rain and headwinds and arrived in Sicuani. The day after I began the climb up the Abra La Raya (alt. 4338 meters), this would be the last major climb before entering the high altitude plains that reach lake Titicaca and the Bolivian border. Climbing higher through the valleys I could see some very dark looking clouds in the distance and was also feeling a bit weak perhaps from the altitude. Then i rounded a corner and saw a sign for some hot springs, this was a very welcome sight, so I paid to enter and had a nice soak and then it began to rain heavily. At this point I decided to stay here for the night and was put up in a grungy cement cell. The day after I went over the pass and down the other side to Ayaviri. It was Sunday afternoon when I arrived in the central Plaza and found another simple room for the night. The following day I decided to take a bus to Puno after hearing that there was heavy traffic with very little shoulder on the highway and unimpressive scenery. When I arrived in Puno I found that it was the annual town celebration so spent the afternoon enjoying the carnival and procession through the streets.