Days 78-80: Cusco, Peru

Dan and I had three more days in Cusco after finishing our Inca Jungle Trek. Our first order of business upon returning to the city was switching hostels. We upgraded from the unkempt, teenage ridden accommodation to one of the best hostels we had stayed in during our entire trip. The place was well-run, had an inviting and open layout, and offered plenty of activities. 

Our Australian friends Shari and Andrew, who we had traveled with throughout Bolivia, had arranged to check into the same hostel as us. After reuniting with them, the four of us went on a free walking tour through Cusco. During the tour, we learned a bit about the city's history, tried some alpaca meat from a local restaurant, got taken to the best vantage point of the city, and learned about the process for making and dyeing alpaca wool.

I also made a new friend while we were walking around...

That night was Halloween. Our hostel was having a party and provided hats and masks for anyone who wanted one. We happily spent the better part of the evening there, and had a great time playing cards, drinking, and talking to our friends. 

The next two days in Cusco passed by really quickly. We spent the majority of our time hanging out with friends, walking around, and checking out the shops and markets. The central market in Cusco was very similar to the ones we had seen in Bolivia. Two exceptions were that there seemed to be a greater abundance and variety of corn in Peru...

...And numerous people were selling large loaves of baby- and horse-shaped bread. The bread was not a typical feature of the market. Instead, it was sold specifically for El Día de Los Muertos, The Day of the Dead, which falls at the beginning of November. We learned that many people believe the souls of the dead will return in the form of a child. Because of this, there is an Andean tradition of buying these baby loaves and eating them at the cemeteries where people's loved ones are buried.

Tonight, for our final evening in Cusco, Dan and I went to dinner at a traditional Peruvian restaurant. I ordered a popular Peruvian steak dish called lomo saltado and Dan opted for an alpaca entree. We are  leaving South America tomorrow night, and during our meal, we spent a bit of time reflecting on the entirety of our trip: our initial concerns, any regrets we had (Dan getting bitten by a stray dog was the only thing on the list), and what it will be like to come back home. It is hard to believe that tomorrow is the final day of our journey, but it's also incredible to think about all we have done over the past three months.