Part II: Cusco

Twenty hours on a bus is a very long time. That's all I have to say about that.

Although on this bus ride, we were introduced to what we now refer to as Apple Goo, which is the worst dessert you'll ever try. So don't try it. It almost tastes like melted jello, but it's just a little bit worse. We also met a very kind British man who helped us find a cab and hostel for the night. Right before he left to try San Pedro, which is a cactus that causes hallucinations. We wished him the best of luck in that adventure.

Some of the highlights of Cusco included the view from our hotel (this was BY FAR my favorite city view ever), finding a nice place to stay for only $4 a night, and the food. I also gained a very strong testimony of the absolute beauty of Snickers bars. Paired with some fresh mango juice, they make a rather delightful breakfast. Or lunch. Whichever you prefer. We took a couple of walking tours, during which we only got lost twice and were able to see the famous twelve-sided Inca stone and several cathedrals. My favorite part of these tours, though, was the guidebook, which described the market as "smelly, noisy, and full of fat women in large hats" and warned us "if you see a dog, throw a rock at it - they're pests." I learned the difference between a llama and an alpaca, and met a kind woman who let me hold her baby goat.

The scariest moment of the trip was when a couple of Peruvian men offered themselves to us. At a reasonable price, of course. After that, we found a new route to our hotel. But don't worry, we came out unscathed.