Last Blog

We are nearly done with our adventures in the beautiful nation of Peru. I just want to spend this blog entry recapping everything we've done and what some of my favorite things about the trip were:

5) Museums

We visited many museums in Lima and Cusco, all of whom seemed to have blended together in my mind, so I just decided to group them all into the category of "museums." I got to see many exciting things and learn a lot about pre-Colombian (and post-Colonial) cultures. From pottery to textiles to the foods of ancient peoples, I saw it all in these museums.

4) Basilica Cathedral of Lima

The Cathedral of Lima that we went to was one of the most humbling things I've ever seen. While not a particularly religious person, I was overwhelmed with emotion at the painstaking measures the architects and artists went through to construct paintings, sculptures, edifices, and garb because of their devotion to a belief that they hold dear to them. Upon entering, one can just feel the serenity and calmness of the cathedral, which I believe was one of its many purposes.

3) Cusco

I couldn't really divide this one into any smaller categories. I just loved the entire city of Cusco. There were constantly festivals going on every day in the Plaza de Armas, which was my favorite place to hang out while we were there. The random llamas and alpacas one would see just walking around on the side of the road were quite a sight to see. The natives in their Quechuan garb gave me a sense of cultural awareness. And of course all of the vast history of the city with its being the capital of the Incan Empire. I just had so much fun and got so much enjoyment out of traveling to and living in this city, and I definitely can't wait to save up enough money to come back to visit it again!

2) The Lima Zoo

I've always loved animals, so when I found out we were going to a zoo I was ecstatic. It was a ton of fun and I got to see a lot of exotic animals not necessarily native to South America but amazing to see in real life nonetheless.

1) Machu Picchu

As was probably easy to guess, the number one spot on my top five goes to Machu Picchu. This was truly an amazing and overwhelming sight to see. And to be there on the day of the winter solstice was absolutely incredible and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Not many people out of the billions in this world can say they've visited one of the great wonders of the world, but I'm glad that I've had the opportunity to say that I'm one of the few who has.

This has been the greatest trip I've ever taken and I am already counting down the days until I come back next year to see it all again!