In Cusco!!!

Or Cuzco...
Or Qosqo, as it is spelled in the native Quechua language (which is actually called Runasimi, or the "language of the people", by those who speak it.)

ANYWAY, I finally made it after being here over a year and a half.. The tourist destination of almost everyone entering Peru's borders: Cusco! Even MORE importantly, I'm here with my parents!! Yay!!

We have just been in Cusco two days and tomorrow we will be heading to the Sacred Valley and Urubamba ("black widow meadow"... so we'll bring the bug repellent!) And then on to the infamous Machu Picchu.

It's been a very exciting trip so far, we have been sampling some local cuisine: chicha morada, pollo a la plancha, alpaca meat, lots of coca tea, quinua, kiwicha, and chicharrones. Have yet to get to the guinea pig but don't worry, we're working on it!

Well, we are still recovering from our 2am wakeup call to get to Cusco two days ago and I was even farther behind, taking a night bus to meet them in Lima. Between the sleep deprivation and the 11,000 ft. of altitude in Cusco we've been going slow... but enjoying the ride!!

Sidenote: Observation from my mom: "It's very loud in Peru."