The Experience

The experience was amazing. My first trip abroad 14 hours away from home and 11,000 feet above sea level was one I will always cherish. As a lone traveler, I was very nervous and held a pretty tough guard during my time there. I learned that people are very friendly in Cusco and they are very trusting. I was not treated like a tourist, I was treated like family. I learned Spanish during my time there earning a certificate acknowledging that I could speak at a high basic level. I also learned a lot about the healthcare in Peru. I was very interested in how things were done compared to the US and I can testify that things are definitely different and I am very thankful for the technologies and people that we have that strive to exceed our healthcare. It was a fun and memorable experience for me. 

Will I do it again? Of course! I want to take all of my friends with me next time because this is an experience that everyone should get. Thank you Peru, thank you Maximo Nivel, thank you International Volunteer HQ and thank you Jesus for protecting me and allowing me to have such a wonderful time!

Sightseeing

As a lone traveler pressed for time, I was not sure if I would get a chance to see all of the sites in Cusco. I was hesitant about which tour company to trust and the price of tours were not really in budget. However, I was under the impression that you must travel with a licensed agency to the ruins in Cusco. That may be true for some but for the ruins in Sacred Valley that I visited, that was not the case. You have to buy a tourist ticket in the city or at the site that you visit in order to gain entrance into the ruins.  For a partial 2-day ticket, the cost is $25 US dollars. For a week long all-inclusive ticket, the cost is about $50 US dollars.   

How did I get there?
Good question. I toyed around with many options. I could take a cab with would cost about $15 US dollars each way or I could take a bus which would only cost like $1 US dollar each way. Just be sure if you decide to take the bus, you find out in advance where the bus stop is that travels to your destination. Also, this route stops for anyone who wants a ride so if you are limited on time, DO NOT TAKE THE BUS.  Another option which is the one I pursued was a called a collective taxi. It only cost me $3 US dollars each way. It is not as fast as having your own private cab but it will get you there a little quicker than the bus. You ride along with 10 other people in a van. The stops are more directed to specific stops so your trip will only  be delayed by the number of stops in the route. I traveled to Ollantaytambo and it took me 1.5 hours to get there and 2 hours to get back to the city.

The Ruins

Beautiful! I will not say more, check it out for yourself. It is beautiful!

Night Life

Cusco is a very sleek, sophisticated and romantic city to travel around at night. My friends and I would often travel to the Plaza De Aramas and visit the restaurants and shops in the area.  We found a nice bar known as Paddy’s. It is the highest Irish pub in the nation with regards to altitude.  We also went to Mama Africa. This was a club and it reminded me of the clubs in America. It was a very nice place, with awesome lights, and great music. Everyone must visit Mama Africa if you travel to Cusco. There was another club/bar known as the Mushroom Club and it offered a very relaxing environment. The lighting and decorations gave it a nightlife feel but it was not too crowded. There was also a place to dance if you wanted to. I really liked this place. Now that I am older, I gravitate to the places where there is not a big crowd but it is nice enough that you can enjoy yourself.  Walking through the city at night was amazing. Most stores and markets are open. The streets are filled with people, locals and tourists. Everyone I encountered was very nice and helpful in Cusco. 

Gastronomy in Cusco

During my time in Peru, I lived with a host family. My host mom loved to cook Peruvian dishes and I loved to eat them.  In Peru, I noticed that lunch was the generally the biggest of the three meals of the day. It would consist of a meat, rice, salad and bread. Breakfast generally consisted of a very seasoned and tasty egg, fruit, and bread. They make a lot of juices in the morning. Mango and papaya juice were my favorites. Between 6 and 7 in the evening, we would be served dinner. Dinner was usually light. We had rice and beef, rice and chicken, chicken soup, taquenos (probably spelled wrong), guacamole, and many other interesting dishes. One night, I ate a piece of an alpaca. It was really good, taste just like steak. Our host mom took our family out for lunch and we had what is known in Peru as Cuy (Pronounced: coowee). Here in America, we call it a guinea pig. It was hard to bring my mind to the reality that I was going to eat an animal that is a popular domesticated animal in my country. I did, and it was good. The flavor is hard to describe with a few distinct tastes. It was good and you will have to try it. Water was everywhere in Peru. I am soda person so I was disappointed not to have my soda. However, this trip helped me curve my soda addiction and now I loooovvvvveeee water. I really enjoyed the food and after learning how to make taquenos, I hope I can make some pretty delicious ones at home.