Cusco, Peru

Arriving in Cusco nearly a week prior to setting off to trek the Inka Trail, Marielle and I were fortunate to be able to explore the city and sign up for some cool activities. We had stayed occupied with a tour of the sacred valley- that was rather jam packed and didn´t quite allow for as much independent exploring of the inka ruins as I thought there would be. (proof being- whenever we took off from the numerous stops we had, it was either myself or Marielle that was doddling behind and being motioned to hurry up) .BUT I did manage to run about the two sites that we were brought to of Pisac and Ollantaytambo. The latter of the two was too filled with people but if you go for a quick jaunt through one of the ruins you find a trail leading up the hillside that gives you a view from a low flying birds eye- that was a standout moment for me. Another of our Cusco days detailed a ride out to the countryside, where we adventured into whitewater rafting, boogie body board rafting, and kayaking in the Urubamba River. The day was accompanied with some wonderful rafting mates, zipling and a traditional sauna at the end. We were fortunate enough to catch up with our friends from before, Toby, Tom, Michael, and some of their lovely girlfriends that were acquired throughout the way. The whole lot of us went out for an amazing very family-esk dinner, that was absolutely lovely. Then later in the night, old habits of partying together returned. We also had a few other days of perusing markets, a choclate museum, and upon returning from the Inka Trail- a spa day, and a lunch out to the contryside for some traditional roasted cuy (aka guinea pig-teeth, claws and all)....don´t fret, there IS photo evidence of this. That above is the brief overview of Cusco in a very small nutshell. The Inka Trail and Machu Pichu will get a post of it´s own.

Love,
Megs