Views so nice I had to see them twice!

After three weeks of being in Peru, my parents decided to extend the stay by joining me for another week and a half. Of course, they want to take advantage of being in such a beautiful country by going to all the places we went during the program--Pisac, Ollantaytambo, Machu Picchu..... Since it is a "family" trip, I have been going back to these places, which has been a very strange experience. Slightly annoying at times, since my parents are not accustomed to the altitude, the bumpy roads, and all the other things I have had time to get used to during our program.

Being able to revisit some of the historical sites we have already been to has given me more time to reflect. While my parents are ooh-ing and aah-ing at the view, I am noticing things I didn't necessarily pay attention to before. I am able to tell my parents the best places to shop, eat, and spend free time. While they look slightly lost, I am free to wander the side allies and streets I didn't pass through the first time.

In Ollantaytambo, I was able to take one of the rickshas, or tuk-tuks as they are called here. Wandering around, I made friends with a shop owner, and had the chance to go to the restaurant we never got to go to while there. Our hotel in Cusco is in the same part of town, but closer to the other side of San Blas, which has allowed me to explore the new area more. I have found some new restaurants and coffee shops, as well as a new series of tiendas which I spent way too much time in.

Tomorrow, we continue our journey to Machu Picchu, and I am very curious to see what it feels like to see the view a second time. The first visit was jaw-dropping enough, but who knows what round two has in store. All I can hope for is that I learn something new and am able to see the view in a new way.