Southbound Gnomads

Ahhh Cusco! The capital city of the Incan empire, and the historical capital of Peru. We have arrived!! We'd been looking forward to this destination for many reasons- the culture, ruins, Macchu Picchu of course, but also for amazing friends to be joining us from home. Bienvenidos Damien y Erica! :)  Cusco city This part of Peru offers endless options of excursions, hikes, museums, and the lot, so of course it wasn't easy to narrow down our options to pick the very best for the week we had here with our good pals. We found a happy home with our own little flat in the historical neighbourhood of San Blas, which was right near square and the old church, with tiny narrow cobblestone streets and colonial buildings. Cusco has a special charm, and although the Spanish conquered, they didn't take the time to mow down all evidence of an Incan past- and so it's not uncommon to see classic Incan walls with their perfectly cut mismatched stone bricks used as the fou...

Here we are with the month that was- central Peru and all it's glory! (Rewind to early-mid March, lo siento...) Meeting the locals at Willcacocha  This place continues to be nothing but awesome; it has truly been an unforgettable experience. Our next stop after leaving the north and the windswept beaches was quite a contrast, as we traded sand and sun for snow-capped peaks and glacier lakes.  Downtown Huaraz Huaraz is a grubby, bustling city nestled in the Andes about 7 hours north of Lima. We were so fortunate to find a cozy home-stay through AirBnB with Nancy and her family in the hills outside of town for our first few days, in the tiny village of Cashipampa . By the time we arrived at her place, 30 minutes  from the city centre and down a bumpy dirt road, it was nearly dark. We had to stop to ask for directions a few times, and when we finally arrived at the doorstep we were greeted by her two young sons, Lennin, 11, and Juan Carlo, 8. They were ju...