Cusco & Machu Picchu

Disclaimer: I’m traveling throughout South America. Will be writing some stories that are about my experiences here and what I am seeing/learning. This is the first one.

My first few days traveling were pretty wild.

Getting to Machu Picchu

Left the US at 4:30 pm on a Wednesday

• Denver-> Dallas -> Lima -> Cusco and then it was 10 am on Thursday.
• Got to an Airbnb, left my stuff
• Explored Cusco 11:30 am-3:30 pm
• Caught a shuttle-type vehicle with strictly local people from Cusco to Ollantaytambo that had a one pit stop in a random town 3:30 pm — 5:15 pm
• Ate and chilled in Ollantaytambo for an hour and a half
• Train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (base of Machu Picchu) 7–9 pm
• Hung out and then slept.

First 28 hours: ~21 hours of travel. Was tiring but all the new and exciting stuff gave me energy. And very very thankful that I can sleep on planes/buses/trains (and for audiobooks).

Machu Picchu

• Woke up at 4:15 AM
• Was up there from 6 am — 1 pm
• Think I explored the entire place
• It was real big
• Climbed an additional peak called Wayna Picchu that they only let 400 people into each day (lucked out that there were still tickets when I got em) — that’s where the picture above was taken

Machu Picchu was breathtaking. I’ve been on the top of 14,000 foot peaks in Colorado and those were amazing, but Machu Picchu felt different. Probably because of all the history associated with the place as well as the ruins and how much space there was to walk around. It felt so raw. Like so natural and authentic and real. And this is even despite the fact that the place has been tourist-ized.

These mountains had been there for ages and ages. It makes me think about how I will only be around for like 100 years. Makes problems seems small and puts life into a much crazier and large perspective.

I’m not a history nut (in fact, I have a bit of a dislike towards history), but being there made me want to learn all about the Incas and everything that has taken place in that world.

Other thoughts?

• Connecting with people in a different language is really challenging
• People are, generally, super nice

My Airbnb hosts were great and I’ve already met some really cool people along the way. They want to help us see and explore their country.

Makes me so grateful for Airbnb. Instead of having to stay in some overpriced hotel or a hostel I randomly found, I got to live with a family in Cusco. Talk about cultural immersion. Being able to just discuss life and the world and individual experiences with someone so drastically different than me.

• South America is super different

I haven’t been to many places yet, but with the lifestyle here, I can already tell

• I have to buy bottled water
• I have to pay a little bit to use some of the bathrooms
• There are people selling random things on the streets literally everywhere (and a lot of them will haggle and try to persuade you to buy)
• There are huge markets that function like farmers markets, but they’re open all of the time, have a hugely wide range of things and function as family businesses
• A lot of families here have their own restaurant or thing that they sell and all the kids in the family help out
• I was served food by a 12 year-old girl. Just doesn’t happen in most places in America

The world is huge. And traveling is difficult. We are comfortable with our lives at home and going somewhere new provides different challenges.

It does not matter how people think about me at school or within my family or online. When I’m in South America, all they have to base me off of is the way in which I act. First impressions, no preconceived notions, and, in many cases, only a few hours (or, if I’m lucky, days) to interact.

We can try to develop these images and representations of ourselves, but when you travel, those go out the door. It becomes real human connection. That becomes more challenging in another language. Even more challenging when you’re tired. And even more challenging with all of the unknowns and other things on my mind — am I going to make it to my next destination on time to catch my flight? What do I do if I get lost? How do I figure out if these vegetables were washed with clean water?

No pain, no gain, though. Have to continue to push out of comfort zones. Don’t know if I’ll ever be back here — and will definitely not be back ever again as this version of myself, at this point in time and with these people.

Makes it unique and fun and couldn’t have asked for a better start.

Onwards and upwards :)