No one warns you about the third day. Everyone talks about the sunrise at Machu Picchu, but not the part where your legs shake so badly you wonder if you’ll even make it. I sat on a rock, halfway up a never-ending staircase, and realized I wasn’t just tired—I was angry. At the altitude, at my body, at the stupid idea that hiking ancient paths would make me feel more alive. I wanted to quit. I didn’t. But I stopped pretending this was some epic journey of self-discovery. Sometimes, travel just hurts. Sometimes, that’s the whole point. #Travel #TravelUnfiltered #HikingTruths