It's been a busy week and i'm very happy to announce that there is a new addition to the family... a puppy! As some of you may know, I lost my dog in November to a brain lesion. It was a hard time and a heart breaking experience, as anyone who has a lost a pet can understand. Its like losing a member of your family. It took me awhile to even think about another dog, and at the same time missed the companionship and unconditional love a dog brings.

And that is where Whiskey comes in.. I found him through a petfinder.com rescue. He is a beautiful 8 week old German Sheppard/ Lab mix rescue pup who just stole my heart. Some people pick your dog, but I think the dog picks you as well and that's what he did. We had a bond from the moment we met. And as I sit on my couch, with my little Whiskey beside me, he puts a smile on my face. Looking forward to a summer of new learnings and good times together. Welcome to the family Whiskey!

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The Gateway to Machu Picchu

If you are heading to Machu Picchu, chances are you will pass through Aqua Calientes. We stayed in this tourist town for a couple days, as we checked out the Machu Picchu Area. Its a vibrant city with lots of restaurants, stores and touristy things to do, plus the train station is right there so you can get to Sacred Valley, Cusco and Machu Picchu all from the same area.

The hotel we stayed at Taypikala was beautiful. Located on the top of the hill, you get a great view of the mountains and Aqua Calientes. The service was excellent, location great and the staff friendly. We weren't as happy with our room, and they upgraded us for free for no extra charge! They were even nice enough to give us food to take on our day trip to Machu Picchu. Very friendly and thoughtful staff.

You will find a lot to do in this city, especially when it comes to restaurants, tours and grabbing drinks. The area near the train station is really nice, a great view of the river and the mountains. Absolutely stunning. 

Tip: 

- When grabbing food in Aqua Calientes, be mindful of all the deals they offer you. Everywhere you will find 3 course meals for 15/20 soles. However sometimes the portions aren't what you expect and they will throw in a servico charge which is basically a high tip. You pretty much have to negotiate your meals. You will find that a lot on the main hill (which we nicknamed harassment hill based in being constantly harassed to come in to basically every restaurant).   

- prices fluctuate here so sometimes it's worth taking a bit of a walk around to find the best price on items 

- don't buy from the market here. It's way more expensive then the Pisac and cusco ones, which have the same things for one third the price. 

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An experiment in agriculture.

Moray is a place definitely worth a visit. In your trip to Peru, you will come across many ruins, however this place is very unique and sets itself apart from the rest. Moray was originally an experiment in agriculture and how crops respond to different conditions such as altitude. The Incas purposely tried different combinations to see which altitudes work for which crops. As a result they had more insight to help with their farming. This is brilliant especially for those times. While it no longer has the same function today, seeing the design on this area and knowing the history is really interesting and worth a trip. The area surrounding Moray is rich in agriculture and you can see lots of farming on your trek out there.

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Remnants of a fortress, with a bustling market.

No visit to Urubamba area is complete without visting Pisac. Home to a huge fortress, you can spend hours exploring this once strong fortress and taking in the gorgeous views.

We hired a cab that day to take us to the Pisac and the surrounding areas. We were so happy that we did because we could go at our own pace and it wasn't that expensive (we got a whole day from 9am-5pm for $120).

Pisac is a massive ruins. To be honest I didn't realize how big it was until we got there. Plus it's quite the workout. I didn't realize how out of shape I felt until I started walking around. Mind you it was day two and I was still adjusting to the altitude so every step required extra work on my end and I became out of breath very quickly. I would definitely recommend some level of training or a good fitness level to start exploring this area in depth.

After spending a couple hours there, we headed to Pisac city to the market. I'm not one usually into the markets, but I gotta say this one was great! There was tons of great stuff there from artisans and all these unique pieces. We ended up getting some jewellery and a chess set. The prices here were really good, as well as the quality and selection. Plus you can negotiate here as well. We ended up getting a chess set for 85 soles, when we later saw it at other markets for 150-250 soles!! Unbelievable. One thing to keep in mind is that the market doesn't run everyday. Only Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

We also checked out a restaurant near the market where you can get a 3 course meal for $20. We weren't expecting much at first, just a snack. So imagine our surprise when heaping amounts of delicious food came out. It was soooo good and the portions very generous.

All in all, we really enjoyed Pisac and would recommend that you make some time to check it out. You can easily visit it from Ollantaytambo or Cusco, and it's definitely worth the trek.

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In our recent trip to Peru, we decided to start off in Ollantaytambo. It was a lower altitude (great place to acclimatize), and seemed like a place to catch up on some relaxation. Located in what's known as the Sacred Valley, this smaller town is surrounded by beautiful scenary and a pleasant place to start an adventure.

We stayed at a nice boutique-like hotel called the Hotel Sol.The service was great and we just loved our room. We had our own patio overlooking the river and the Ollantaytambo ruins! Both nights we were there we made a point of grabbing some beers and sitting on the patio looking at the stars, was just magical and so many of them! We were very impressed with the location of the hotel, and the surrounding views. Plus the staff were super friendly and accommodating. (Check out Hotel Sol on Tripadvisor).

We had great food in Ollantaytambo. So delicious... There were some nice cafes, where you can sit in the Plaza de Armas or close to the mountains and have a coffee, drink or nice dinner. The food was reasonably priced and generous portions. Definitely try the Peruvian cuisine while you're there. One of our favourite restaurants there was called Puka Rumi, and located close to the ruins. The ambiance was great and the food delicious. Definitely worth checking out.

We explored the Ollantaytambo archaeological site, which is definitely a must if you're in the area. The construction of it is fascinating and you get an amazing view of Ollantaytambo and the surrounding towns from there. Prepare for a bit of walking uphill though, as there is a fair bit. Also, if you are just getting into the area and haven't fully adjusted to the altitude take it a bit easy and take your time with it. We didn't get Altitude Sickness, but there were points that I felt more tired then usual.

One of the great things we also loved was the location. The area has so much natural scenary and is so laid back, you really can get relaxed here. It was close to Moray, and not that far to Pisac. Plus there's a train station in town that takes you to Cusco or Machu Picchu.

Ollantaytambo is definitely a great place to start a Peruvian adventure.

Tips in Ollantaytambo:

• If you plan on visiting some of the area sites (including Ollantaytambo). It might be worth getting the "Boleto Turistico Del Cusco", this will get you into places like Pisac, Moray Saqsayhuman and more. We paid 130/soles (approx $60) for access to 16 sites over 10 days.
  
• If taking the train to Machu Picchu, keep in mind there are only a couple trains that you can bring your bigger luggage on. (check out Perurail for more info )
• If you want to check out some local sites, but don't feel like a tour, ask your hotel to hire a taxi for the day. They are pretty reasonable especially if you split it with someone.
  
• Don't overexert yourself too much in the first couple days if you are having trouble with the altitude. Take it easy. 

Have you been to the area and have tips to share? Would love to hear them. Please comment :)

Thanks and happy travelling!

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