Peru is no default

Due to only having 90 days on our tourist visa in Ecuador and needing to be in Quito for our return flight home, Colin and I were obligated to leave the country for about 3 weeks.

I am so glad.

Peru.

We took a 34 hour bus ride from Mantanita, Ecuador to Lima, Peru. After a lot of dozing, a lot of reading, and about 7 "shoot 'em up" movies, we were here. Lima is the capital of Peru and a gigantic coastal city. The traffic, smog, and hectic feel of the place caused us to reconsider staying. We jumped in a taxi the next morning headed for the airport and bought a couple of last minute tickets to Cusco.

Cusco. This is the city we have been waiting for! It is a smaller, cleaner, (dare I say) prettier version of Quito.

Coca leaves.You can make tea with them or chew on them to help your body adapt to the 11,000ft altitude.

Once the capital of the entire Incan empire, this picturesque mountain city is the perfect combination of charm and wilderness. There are numerous museums, cathedrals, markets to explore.  And llamas.

 

There are many ruins from the Incan and per-Incan societies surrounding the city. Colin and I spent about an hour on a couple of rather grumpy horses on our way to see some sights.

One of the highlights of our cusco trip...actually our entire trip in general is this person right here....

We met Erika at the Donkey Den in Ecuador and planned to meet up with her here in Cusco. There are times when you cross paths with someone and you know that this is the beginning to something beautiful. We are so grateful to have her as a friend. She has been traveling nonstop for the last year and a half and has inspired me in how to become a better traveler and a better human being.

 

 

Colin helping deshell some dinner. :)

We thought the name of this loca beer was quite funny..."Cerveza."

 

Getting a roof top hair cut is always the best way to go.

Last year Erika volunteered at a program about 30 minutes from Cusco. It's an after school program for the local children. She went back to visit for a few days and we joined her. What a blessing for us! Great food, fun people, and KIDS! So cheerful and happy to see us. So content with what they have. Colin and I have been very blessed to be able to do what we do and see what we see. This was a humbling reminder to be thankful for what and who we have in our lives.

 

Here we are in the back of a station wagon taxi. Gotta love Peruvian tranportation!

Super fun and colorful ways to teach recycling at the local school we helped with.

Unique foods found only in this area of the world.

Colin, Erika, myself, and another friend, Hayden, will all be headed to Machu Picchu. Lots of pictures to come..... :)

Peace, friends.Whether you are in California, Nebraska, Kansas, or any other state or country. We are glad and thankful you are in our lives. Blessings.