Sarah Maher is a student at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale and an ISA Featured Blogger. Sarah just finished studying abroad with ISA in Cusco, Peru.
Peru has a wealth of history, giving it many “must-see” sights for tourism, the most obvious being Machu Picchu and the other Incan ruins in the area (including: Sacsayhuaman, Ollantaytambo, Moray and so many more). From our ventures with ISA, I now know that Huayna Picchu is a must-see of the Machu Picchu ruins. There are those who may think that some of the ruins are overrated and may feel that it is unnecessary to see them all, but for me, it is well worth it to visit each and every one. Another must see of Peru, though not in Cusco, is Lake Titicaca in Puno. I was personally able to stay there for a weekend, and every moment was well worth it.
Since not every day in Peru can be a trip to one of the country’s wonders, life is not all sites and traveling. A typical day in Cusco has finally become routine for me. I start my morning by waking up for some made-fresh-daily bread from the local supermercado. From there it’s off to class, since the purpose of this trip is to study abroad. Our homestay is about a 55-minute walk to Centro Tinku (where our classes are held). I have been taking 2 classes, one on culture and one about literature, which end at 5 pm. Unfortunately it gets dark a little before 6, so on the average night it’s just home via the combi system for dinner.
Due to my short time abroad, I know that I will be unable to see all the wonders that Peru has to offer, and most likely will not even be aware of how many there are. Though there is a routine in Cusco, everyday is still an adventure, and I’m thankful that I have the opportunity to live it.