Recently, I got back from the most incredible eight day trip to Peru. My adventure was filled with action-packed days, amazing friends and unforgettable experiences that were anything but average. Since I had never been to South America, I was nervous. I am a picky eater, and I was afraid I did not know enough Spanish to interact with the natives. Although these thoughts were fresh in my mind, I was more than excited to get to travel to yet another foreign country.
Peru was not my first abroad trip. I have been to Israel, Mexico and Jamaica, just to name a few. The only difference about this trip was the fact that I was less aware of what the country was like. I knew that I was in for a surprise.
When I first arrived, it was late at night and I was greeted with a busy airport. After finding our local tour guide, we went outside and got on a bus. On the way to our hotel, our guide filled us in on some important tips for our stay. These included: do not drink the tap water, do not pet the stray cats and dogs and be mindful of your bags in busy places. These all worried me. But tips like "try the food because it is really delicious" and "the natives are very sweet" kept me hopeful.
The first day was more than I could have ever wanted. I got so close with my group and I was able to explore a beautiful country. The experience left me thrilled to travel through the rest of Peru, trying different foods and making new memories.
The next couple of days blurred together because I was having so much fun. Some highlights included flying to Cuzco and exploring the Sacred Valley, taking a train to Machu Picchu to take in the wonders of the site, many llamas and alpacas, climbing Sacsayhuaman and visiting Lake Titicaca and the Floating Islands.
Nothing can amount to the beautiful scenery that I saw in Peru. Every day, we would hike to the top of a mountain or ancient ruin and we could see over the entire city we were staying in.
Peru allowed me to step out of my comfort zone. I tried new foods that I never thought I would have tried, I reached new heights (quite literally -- 13,000 feet is pretty high), and made friends that I know will be around forever. I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to spend eight days in such a vibrant and lively country.
I never wanted my trip to end. The days flew by faster than I would have liked and I would do anything to be back there.
