Bucket list...check. Machu Picchu was magnificent.  I couldn't believe I was standing there.  It was so much bigger than I was expecting.  Honestly, I was so exhausted by the time I got there, as was everyone else.  We had been hiking for four days, which was not an easy hike.  Sleep was also hard to come by at night being in a tent, and that morning we woke up at 2:30 to hike in the rain downhill for 5+ hours before arriving here.  When we got there, it was cloudy blocking the famous views, but cleared up a little later right before it rained.  Unfortunately, sleep and putting my feet up were the main things on my mind, so I was a little checked out of the history lessons.  Being there was enough!  The fact that people built this incredible civilization hundreds of years ago on the top of a mountain so steep is mind boggling.  The views from Machu Picchu out are stunning, making you feel incredibly small.  Next time, I'll take the train in and soak it in more.  So thankful for this exposure and experience in beautiful Peru.  I want to see more of South America!

I am so happy that I decided to experience Machu Picchu by hiking the Inca Trail.  It was a spectacular hike with some of the most gorgeous scenery I'd ever seen in all my travels.  I was able to use my Spanish again after ten years, and was so surprised and excited to be able to communicate with the locals as much as I did.  This was actually my first legit hike with camping in a tent and everything, and it was an amazing one to start with.  However, everything from here on out will probably be a little disappointing haha.  I was super lucky to have such an amazing group of people to do it with too. Everyone was really young and came from all parts of the world, and have travelled all over the globe prior to this trip.

Everyone kicked so much ass on the trail and didn't complain despite the difficulty of the trail and everyone feeling bad at some point.  I was falling apart more than most people actually, because my meniscus that I tore a few years ago was swelling up and would hurt so bad when I went down hill bringing me to tears at one point. Anyway, I've noticed this with everywhere I travel -- that when you spend a lot of time doing something really unique with people, even if you've never met them, you become like family by the end.  My global friendships have now increased, and there is nothing that makes me happier than that.  We had 14 or so people in our group, and we had 21 porters with us as well, who are local people who carry the bulk of the camping stuff to and from the campsites.  They were mostly small men, ages from 19-59, speaking only Spanish, with the most incredible athletic abilities I've ever seen.  This trail was very steep and tough to walk on, and they would sprint past us up and down, rain or shine, arriving at our camps hours before us.  They were so humble and nice, making the experience just so much more enjoyable and authentic feeling. The beauty of Peru was more than what I was expecting.  It was a peaceful country, separated from the craziness we see go on across the world.  They live humble lives in the country with farm animals and they know the value of honest hard work. The history was rich on every part of the trail.  I'd definitely recommend hiking the Inca Trail at least once if you want to see Machu Picchu, because there's so much history and beauty that relates to it along the way.  

INCA TRAIL DAY ONE   INCA TRAIL DAY TWO Ahh! The dreaded day two of the trek.  If you talk to anyone who has done the Inca Trail, they will tell you that day two was the worst, and they are right.  It was mostly uphill with difficult and very steep terrain. I'd highly recommend taking a very light pack on this trail, and bringing plenty of snacks or electrolyte powder for water, regardless of how not-hungry you feel in the beginning.  By the time you reach the Dead Woman's Pass (highest point of the trek) you will be severely wiped out.  It was a beautiful day of the trek because we climbed so high so quickly that the landscape changed a lot.  My camera broke off my vest this day so I had to pack it, so I didn't get as many pictures as I'd hoped.   INCA TRAIL DAY THREE After a brutal day two, this was a nice hike.  It was pretty gradual, up and down, and was a much needed "rest" day in between the difficult days two and four. Day three was most memorable from arriving at camp that afternoon.  At first we didn't think it was very scenic, but once the clouds moved, we had a 180 degree view of the most striking mountain range.  We also played soccer with the porters later in the day, and really bonded with them.  It was so fun, and I won't ever forget it.  I was so dead by this time that I didn't take my camera to the field, so I'm relying on my friends' photos for that memory!

On our way to Ollantaytambo, we made another stop at at the ancient ruins of Pisac in the Sacred Valley.  I didn't realize that there were so many other ancient Incan sites in Peru that had the same structure and character of Machu Picchu. After spending about an hour here, we went to this amazing little restaurant, called Parwa, in the middle of nowhere by a river in the Andes mountains.  The restaurant was like a greenhouse; all the walls were glass and it had a huge opening so it felt like it was outside. The food was prepared at an outdoor wood-burning fire, and delivered by traditionally dressed women, and served family style.

 There were a few alpaca calmly roaming and grazing around the property, as well as a spotted pig who got loose and ran out of the gate, haha.  When we were eating, a thunderstorm passed over and the rains pounded down, soaking the poor alpacas outside. The food was unbelievably delicious -- I could not stop eating.

As we made our way through the Sacred Valley from Cusco to Ollantaytambo, we stopped for a couple hours at a Planeterra-supported women's weaving co-op.  It was a beautiful and humble village, nestled in the country side in the lush mountains.  The colors of the buildings and clothing of the people painted the scenery with bright contrast.  We met women who make a living by making traditional weaving textiles, and learned about their different dyeing techniques and the meanings behind the motifs.  The alpacas that the women used (for their fur) for the weavings were all hanging out nearby, waiting for the next visitor to hand feed them some grasses that the women were passing out.  

When I was there, I felt like I wanted to live there for a month or two and experience the simple life.  Sometimes I really wonder what the appeal is in living with such stress just to make money.  Places like this remind me that I desire a well-balanced, good-quality life.  Living in the city sounds fun for now, but in the end I believe we are meant to be in nature, because we are indeed a part of it, not apart from it.

Cusco is a vibrant, cultural city in Peru situated at the base of a group of modest mountains a few hours from the beginning of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. I only spent about one day here, which is not nearly enough time to experience it even from a passing-though tourists' perspective.  However, in that short time my group and I experienced some unbelievable Peruvian food, chill traditional live music, and came across some goofy/adorable alpacas.

Many of the people here dress very traditionally, wearing a lot of bright hand-made clothing.  Women and children sit at street corners selling spices, fresh produce, or hand-made products such as wallets, musical instruments and purses.  It's surprisingly large and it's full of rich history.  I would have loved to spend at least 3-4 uninterrupted days here to take my time walking through different parts of the city, talking with local people and grabbing more in depth photos.