Having waved our visiting grandparents off, we headed back to the campsite overlooking beautiful Cusco, where out campervan had been stored while we were in Cusco. After unpacking, we spent the rest of the day playing sports, watching a movie and generally taking it easy. The following couple of days were spent in a similar fashion, interrupted by a visit to the Estadio Inca to watch FC Cusco play a league match, and the odd dinner in the city.
As nice as this was, it must be said that we all felt a little down after our travelling party was reduced from six to four people. We had been building up to their visit for quite a while, and like is the case with many such events, the after-the-fact often brings such feelings.
Having initially been uncertain of our next destination, in retrospect it was quite an easy decision. A Spanish family we had been in contact with, who had children similar in age to ours, was in the small town of Pisac about an hours drive from Cusco. We decided that a visit there to meet them could be good for both kids and adults alike. So with our water tank filled, toilet emptied and fridge stocked, we left Cusco with many happy memories.
Crossing the bridge into Pisac after the zigzag mountain descent, brought us along the banks of the Urubamba River to meet Pepe, Arancha and family. While they had been traveling a similar route and for a similar timeframe to ourselves in South America, our paths had not yet crossed. Meeting them however felt like meeting long-time friends. They were so welcoming and genuinely delighted to see us, even finding a spot for us to park close-by. The kids immediately began to play with each other, and did not stop playing together for a whole week.
Prior to our visit to Pisac, we had spent some time with other adult travelers, and on occasion with other children, but being in proximity with such like-minded and genuine people was exactly what the four of us needed. We enjoyed all that Pisac had to offer; great restaurants, food markets, mountains, historic sites, children’s play areas and much much more. Yet it was the time just spent beside the campervans, chatting together, with the children playing around happily, that will be my best memory.
An added bonus of stopping for a little bit of time allowed us tend to some of the ongoing repairs that are required for any house on wheels. For us in Pisac, this centered on fixing the hot water system which had not worked for several weeks. For those of you who know myself and Laura, you will be pleasantly shocked to learn that we actually managed to fix this (mostly) ourselves. Who said old dogs cant learn new tricks?!
Saying more goodbyes so soon after Cusco was hard, but yet we all felt much more content as our new friends drove off. We had needed to connect with people doing the same thing, to share stories of our travels and generally just take our foot off the gas. Our children needed to interact with other children, play without time limits and have a little break from their own parents. For us as a family, the week was an absolute ten out of ten in all regards.
Whether we meet Pepe, Arancha and family again on this trip or not, or somewhere in Europe in the future, we know that we will always have good friends in them who we were able to spend a very special week with in Peru.
Click here to read the “Back On There Road Again” blog post
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