Peru Trip 2015: Exploring Cusco, Peru

This is the last post in my Peru Trip 2015 Series, just in time for my sister to arrive home from Peru.  We are heading to the airport soon, signs in hand, and ready for a family reunion full of hugs. You can see the other posts in this series here:

Tacna: Part One
Tacna: Part Two 
Arica, Chile
Cuisine & Christmas Celebrations 
Ollantaytambo (The Sacred Valley)
Machu Picchu

We spent about day and a half in Cusco before heading to the airport to wait for our plane to Lima then off to the states. We all were moving pretty slow at this point during the trip.  Cusco was the perfect place to just wander around the city and take it all in at a slow pace.

We spent a day walking through churches and museums learning so much about the culture and history of this beautiful city.  There was a very distinct line in the history of this country.  The Incans and their vast Empire then after Spanish colonization.  To this day that era is so significant.  Cusco looks very European and the country now is a strong Catholic country. The churches, buildings, monasteries, and museums were all so gorgeous.

In order to get as much done as possible we covered a lot of ground in this city.  Walking up and down the cobblestone streets to see all of the markets and places we could.  By this point in our trip, like I said, we were tired, but also the food wasn't agreeing with us anymore.  We ate at an irish pup in hopes that we could just get some good old fish and chips - wanting as bland of food as possible.  Also, speaking of food, I don't drink soda but on this trip good old coca cola was definitely my drink of choice.  The water isn't the best to drink here.  The Peruvians are partial to Inca Cola - looks like mountain dew tastes like bubble gum, definitely not my cup of tea.

On our very last morning there we took a taxi up the mountain to some Incan ruins above Cusco called Sacsahuaman [prounounced: sexy woman haha!] This fort was one of the last standing battle grounds against the Spanish because of it's incredible architecture but also geological and geographical location to protect the city below. Now when you go there the best part is the view overlooking the city. 


After our last adventure, we packed up our things and headed to the airport for a long long night full of travel and phase 10 to pass the time waiting.  
This trip was nothing short of incredible.  Reflecting on it a year later has brought back so many wonderful memories.  I will always cherish this adventure that we got to take to the wonderful country of Peru.  Thanks for reading along with me during this series. 


What are some of your favorite travels and adventures you have gotten to experience?

Peru Trip 2015: Machu Picchu

More posts on the Peru 2015 Series:

Tacna: Part One
Tacna: Part Two 
Arica, Chile
Cuisine & Christmas Celebrations 
Ollantaytambo (The Sacred Valley)

I'm going to be honest.  It was very difficult to narrow down my pictures for this post.  I am owning it and fully acknowledging that I have a significant amount of photos here, but there is truly no other way to visit one of the wonders of the world and not take a million pictures.  Even these don't do it justice.

Just as it was hard for me to pick pictures for this post, it's even more difficult to find the words to describe this day of our trip.  I have already admitted to being a mountain obsessed girl and once again these Andes mountains blew me away.  One of the most profound things we heard before heading to Machu Picchu was someone told us to pay attention and be quiet while we were here because she [the mountain] will speak to you.  They were right.  I have never walked through a clearing to a view and been brought to tears like I was here.  This day, this trip, this mountain, being in the presence of mother earth was truly an honor.

We left Aguas Calientes early in the morning to get on our bus that drove us up the mountain. Oh my.  If you want to fully appreciate your life; get on this bus.  I don't know how they did it.  It looked to me like we were driving on a steep hiking trail and these buses just whip around those curves like they are auditioning for the Fast and Furious.  By all means don't look out the window because you will see your life flash before your eyes as you stare down thousands of feet of cliff and mountain side into rushing river water. Then you get to the top and all is well because it's Machu Picchu and nothing else matters than the rush that you are there, after kissing the ground of course.

We picked a tour guide at the entrance to lead us through.  It was really interesting to walk around and learn about the history.  One fact - Machu Picchu was like a university.  The best and brightest of the Incans came to learn and study there.  They made huge astrological discoveries and their water system and agriculture was mind boggling. Basically how Machu Picchu sits, its a natural fort.  It is also the last point on the Incan trade trail before you go into the jungle [the Amazon]

We spent the majority of our day hiking around getting to see as many views and angles as possible. Taking it all in and basking in the moments that we were so blessed to spend on this mountain.  This mountain holds so many stories and such rich history that we cannot even begin to understand or explain.  I am just so grateful that I was able to be a small part of it.

By the evening we were back in town, we had to catch a train that took us back to Cusco.

Up next - just in time for my sister to arrive home tomorrow; the last part of our trip: Exploring Cusco