I did a lot of flying- part of my job – in the late 1960s, early 1970s
In those (pre-Jumbo!) days the international airline network was pretty undeveloped – only 2 flights a week between London & Barbados, for example
So route planning was complicated – you needed a good travel agent. Even so, you could find yourself waiting for a day or two - or 3 – in one city before you could fly on to the next. And since delays were common, you could equally find yourself stranded because of a missed connection
The good thing about this was that the airline took complete responsibility for you – hotel, meals, transport to & from the airport
Although in retrospect my recognition of the privilege grows, at the time I thought of it as an imposition. Being away from home, living out of a suitcase in a hotel which could be anywhere. Seen one Hilton, seen them all
And so I found myself in Lima. Getting there had been surprisingly easy on a Sunday but getting home on Wednesday more difficult. The options boiled down to waiting for the return flight on Sunday, a complicated journey via Panama & Miami which would get me home late on Saturday, or cross to Rio, wait 2 days & get home in the small hours of Friday/Saturday night. Rio was definitely the more attractive option, but involved a bit of a guilt trip – holiday on expenses
Then someone said: You could go to Machu Picchu. The plane goes up on Thursday, you could be back in time for your flight on Sunday, be home barely 24 hours after the quickest alternative
I had never heard of Machu Picchu, but when it was explained, the choice made itself. A lot cheaper than the other options too
