My experience is that, after a few days, castles, cathedrals and historic sites tend to run together in a blah blah blah repetition–whether you are in Scotland, France or Peru. Too much. Overload. The sites become a blur, no matter how stunning.
Serendipities help. We had two in the Sacred Valley of Peru.
1) We made it to the top of a hill that was, at a minimum, daunting, and, possibly, impossible, for us to climb. Lake, age 12, ran to the top, the conquering hero. We weren’t as fast, but we made it.
2) In Pisac, Peru, where our tour group stopped for shopping at an outdoor market, an unscheduled parade of small children was happening. Pure joy. Kids being kids. Native Peruvian dress. Dancing. Smiles, which are good in every language. (I took my first ever iPhone video but I have not yet figured out how to post it. Maybe soon. It’s fun to watch.)
Where the Pavement Ends 