Around Cusco, Peru

Cusco is the historical center of Peru. It's the most visited city in Peru because it's the home base for Machu Picchu and lots of other surrounding ruins.

I don't know what I was expecting, but I wasn't expecting terracotta roofs and white walls, connected by steep, narrow streets of endless stairs. We spent one day soaking it in, walking around with our cameras, talking about what we wanted to do in Peru. 

When we flew in during the afternoon, we were surprised by the mild temperatures. It was winter in South America, and we were afraid it'd be colder. When we stepped outside the following morning, the freezing temperatures took our breath away. Now we understood why the locals, particularly the women, were wearing so many layers. For the rest of the trip, we couldn't shake the cold feeling. Not one of us had packed a proper winter jacket. 

The next day we hired a driver and got out of the city to see some sights. That's coming in the next post.

- Julia