Ollantaytambo (or “Olly” for short) was our starting point to our road to Machu Picchu.  It’s a great place to get used to the climate as we prepared for our trek to Machu Picchu, but it’s also a place to visit in its own right with its majestic ruins and spectacular views of Valle Sagrado. Dylan and Reese met up here with their friends, Zaki and Cole. We set our sights on the ruins of the former royal palace of Emperor Pachacuti, and these little explorers were major troopers as we hiked up to the sacred Temple of the Sun. Brood Mama’s feeling all warrior princess after conquering the steep hike to the top. This was, after all, the site of the last stronghold of the Incas against the Spanish conquistadors. We also met quite a few locals in the area. The kids were especially friendly with Senor Llama, Senora Alpaca and Senorita Cabra. It was a tough trek, and the little ones were pooped at the end. Brood Mama had to bring out her special hiking energy pack, otherwise known as Skittles. Always works! After our hike, our group was about ready for lunch. The best place in town to eat is El Albergue, a charming hotel and bed-and-breakfast near the Ollantaytambo station that boasts its own garden and farm overlooking Valle Sagrado. One dining experience you shouldn’t miss is a traditional “pachamanca” — it’s a Peruvian style barbecue where all kinds of meat are grilled underground!  Let’s just say that Senora Alpaca was a good (and delicious) hostess. After lunch, we walked around Mercado Artesanal to see local artisans at work and shop for some Peruvian handicraft. Before sunset, we hailed a ride to Inca Bridge on the other side of town. Check out our ride — this tuk-tuk fit 11 people!     Ollantaytambo was a memorable pit stop that got us even more excited of what’s to come. Check out our related post on the next stage of our trip: the town of Machu Picchu.

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On our way to Machu Picchu, Lima was our first pit stop upon arriving in Peru. We only had a couple of days, so we focused on a few key sites, as well as the most important thing when in Lima — FOOD!   Lima was our first stop on our memorable 6-week trip in South America.  We had a long-haul flight, so we splurged on our hotel — the 5-star J.W. Marriott in Miraflores. It was still a good deal considering it was priced like a regular 4-star in North America, and it was worth every penny!  The kids were welcomed with cute teddies, we had chocolates and champagne (always a good pairing), and we spent a good hour admiring our ocean view while paragliders flew by our window. We were also just across Larcomar Mall, and a block away from the #1 restaurant in Latin America, Central. Win-win! We arrived early from a long-haul flight, and hunger took over. So we crossed the street to Larcomar, an indoor and outdoor shopping center set on a cliff overlooking the ocean. We don’t go to the mall very often, but if it looks like this, we might reconsider. Our first meal in Peru is brunch at Gaston Acurio’s casual eatery, Tanta. It was a tough choice with their selection of baked goods and desserts, so we got a little bit of everything! It was drizzling during the day, and jetlag took over, so we decided our time was best spent taking a loooooong nap.  We woke up hungry yet again, so we headed over to the Barranca district for dinner at the popular local bar & cevicheria, Canta Rana. Gotta love vacations! We had reserve energy from our long nap, so we went to Parque de la Reserva, home to the Magic Water Circuit, the largest fountain complex in the world. With 13 interactive fountains, it’s definitely a highlight and a must-see when in Lima. The next day, the kids and Brood Papa went back to sleep after our hearty hotel brunch, so Brood Mama slipped out for some “mom-me” time. Forgot the name of the salon, but would never forget the view. Ever since trying La Mar in San Francisco, we were set on visiting Gaston Acurio’s flagship restaurant, Astrid Y Gaston. Widely regarded as the chef and restaurant that started the modern Peruvian food revolution, the menu was an exciting taste of Peruvian flavors, with fresh ingredients sourced locally…

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