That time we went to Peru

I'm not sure where to begin with our trip to Peru. We found super cheap flights in June, and booked our trip less than an hour later. Machu Picchu is on our bucket list, so we figured YOLO. No literally, we said YOLO like the whole time. We just brought backpacks which was tough for me, but it turns out we didn't need much. We spent 2 days in Lima, 4 in the Amazon rainforest and 3 in Cusco/Machu Picchu. It was the trip of a lifetime, and made me so grateful for the blessing it is to live in the USA. We have it pretty good over here with clean water, a strong(ish) economy and wi-fi everywhere we go :)

Here are some pictures of our trip, if you'd like to see. Pretty sure this is the longest post I've ever done, but I'm not into dragging out the details of the trip, so I apologize in advance.

First - Lima. 

 Dj and Julie - best travel companions ever!

 This guy's hair killed me the whole time. I loved it so much.

Next - the jungle. Yikes - it was intense. So sticky and hot, insects too large to be real, and crazy tour guides. We fished for piranha's, (yes, I caught one!) went hunting for alligators at night on our rickety boat, tramped through the jungle all day and night (seriously it was so tiring,) and spotted all sorts of animals. Oh - and we ate crazy things, like catfish wrapped in a banana leaf and cooked over the fire, as well as wild tomato juice for breakfast. I'm pretty sure we were served rodent meat more than once, though they claimed it was "beef." 

 The Lodge. No doors or windows so all jungle animals were welcome. Neat.

 Fishing for Piranha's.

 I caught one! 

 He tried so hard, and only caught this little sardine. Poor guy. (Kevin, not the sardine.)

By this point, my camera battery died - so lame. So the rest of the photos I had to snag from Julie.  After the Amazon we ventured to Cusco, and then took a bus ride to Ollantaytambo where we met Anna and Reto Fischer - the coolest Swiss couple ever. (Switzerland Summer 2013, right guys?) We played cards in that city, before taking the train to Machu Picchu - home of beauty and unruly wild dogs. I'm feeling lucky we didn't get rabies. Machu Picchu is too amazing too describe in words. I think everyone should make the trek at least once in their life. Those who have been there know what I mean! We loved it, every second of it.

Yes, I recognize I am wearing the exact same outfit in every picture. I was dumb and only brought one jacket and, it has since been burned because that thing was gross by the end of the trip. 

Big thanks to Dj and Julie for putting up with me in the early mornings (I'm not a morning person, turns out.) Also, thanks to Kev for pretty much carrying me after our Cusco bus ride. That Dramamine did a number on me. 

So where do we go next? I'm thinking Europe, although we're dying to see Australia and New Zealand. Oh - and China. All recommendations welcome!