I’m not the most traveled person ever, but I’ve been to a few countries already and I’ve set foot on 3 continents too. I’ve seen beautiful cities, incredible landscapes and amazing people, but any time someone asks me “what’s you favourite country?” or “What’s your least favourite city?” I always struggle to answer. Usually I say I can’t decide and I mean it.

Looking back, maybe that’s because I traveled mostly in Europe and even though every country is different, they’re not that different from home. I also think it usually has more to do with the kind of trip you’re doing than the city or country itself, but that’s a subject for another conversation.

This trip is showing me realities than I could only imagine. I remember landing in Bolivia and having that first “cultural shock”, it was the moment I thought to myself “this is real, you’re really doing this”.

As time went by, I lived the most memorable experiences, I’ve seen what I thought I could only dream about or see on TV, I tested and proved myself time and time again. Still, I couldn’t say what my favourite country was (the most I could do is say that Bolivia had a special place in my heart).

Now, as I’m sitting on the bus just about to start the journey to leave Peru, I’m thinking that maybe this might be my favourite country yet.

It’s not just the variety of landscapes, the vast mountains, the crazy amount of things you can do throughout the country, the delicious fruits available in the markets, the amazing people or the richness in culture and history. No, it’s more than that. It’s the feeling you get when you’re here. It’s something you can’t explain, you just feel. There is an authenticity and kindness in the air that just makes you feel home.

The people here are welcoming, nice and always ready to help with a smile. Something that I only felt in Bolivia before (and even then, not as much as in Peru) and something that unfortunately you feel less and less in Europe.

Now, as the bus start to move forward and I’m starting to see the streets of Cusco pass by, I am saying goodbye, sure that I’ll miss this city and this country, but hopeful that I’ll be back one day. There are about a million hikes I still want to do here and I didn’t give up on doing that 4-day hike through the Inca trail one day…and now we even know the best guide to do it with! I guess I’ll never run out of reasons to be back.

XOXO,

Barbara