terracotta shingles and adobe bricks

Cusco, Peru

We did make it to Cusco, the cosmopolitan heart of the Urubamba Valley. Hooray!

Sacsayhuaman ruins

During the road strike debacle that set us back several hours, Riley and I befriended Edgar, an animated restaurant owner from Cusco. Our conversation catapulted from finally learning what the strikes were all about to professing my new/found love of ceviche. He insisted we visit him at his cevicheria when we got to Cusco to try real ceviche. A few days later, we arrived half an hour after closing but he fed us anyway. After the amazing dinner, he only let us pay for the beer. Peruvian hospitality at its finest.


Ollantaytambu, Sacred Valley, Peru

I stayed in the tranquil town of Ollanta where Riley took the train to Machu Picchu- a much needed break from each other. Being his first time on his own, I wrote him a note of instructions and advice for getting to the archeological site itself having undergone the tedious process of train ride-entrance ticket-bus ticket-bus ride-ruins exploring-hiking-return bus ride-return train ride, last year.

Terracotta shingles and adobe bricks close-up. Construction materials of choice.

small town girls

Ollanta is flanked by two groupings of Inca ruins. One is cleanly excavated and expensive, the other is free but much more of a trek. I climbed the free one and had an ideal of view of the opposite side and had the place all to myself. Few things are more personally rewarding for the shoestring traveler than discovering a picturesque vantage point void of paying tourists.

the beauty of not paying

An assortment of chichas, a corn-based drink of the Andean highlands. I tried the carrot chicha and had some corn bread. I could barely finish the chicha, but a unique flavor none the less.

our hostal

These terracotta cows adorned most roofs in town meant to protect the household

Pisac, Peru

Known for their colorful artisan market, Pisac became an impromtu lunch break and modest shopping spree for Riley and I, en route back to Cusco.

How you know you're not in the States anymore. Glass coke bottles.

The view from the bus back to Cusco where we depart for Bolivia