saludos, thanks for stopping by
Ica, Nazca & Paracas, Peru South America
In March of 2003 when I left the Amazon jungle I hopped a bus in Lima, Peru and headed south to the deserts of southern Peru. I had always wanted to see the famed Nazca Lines and this was the perfect opportunity. I left the bustling city of Lima and its 9,000,000 people. It seemed to take forever to actually get outside of the city and leave the traffic, pollution and people behind. Heading south on the Pan American Highway we were subjected to check points about every 25 miles. Occasionally we were motioned through but usually the bus was boarded by armed guards who checked everyone's papers and bags. Eventually leaving most signs of civilization behind, we entered a lunar-like landscape. To the right of the highway a vast expanse of sand sloping down to the Pacific Ocean. To the left, more sand running right up to the base of massive mountains.
Ica is an oasis in the desert plains of southern Peru surrounded by sand dunes. Sandboarding competitions are big here.
amigo en Ica
the Huacachina Lagoon, thought to have curative powers, lies surrounded by mountainous sand dunes in Ica
Pisco, a grape liquor/wine, is the traditional drink of Peru. The Ica area is dotted with small bodegas (wineries). Grapes are pressed and the liquid stored in clay pots to ferment. I tasted the "raw pisco" - tastes pretty much like gasoline to me! More pleasing to the soul is the "pisco sour" which I can even get at my jungle abode on the Amazon - pisco, egg white and sugar.
bodega El Catador
it was quite a climb down to the beach (note people dotting the beach) at Paracas
rock formation, El Catedral (the cathedral)
NAZCA
flying over the mountains to view the Nazca Lines
The 2,500 year old Nazca Lines can be seen only from the air. There are over 300 wondrous, giant etchings and zoomorphic designs discovered by Mejia Jespe flying over the area in 1926. Like Machu Picchu, their meaning and origin are subjects of great debates.
BALLESTAS ISLANDS:
a mini Galapagos
El Candelabro, a geoglyph seen only from the ocean on Paracas Bay
approaching Ballestas Islands
sea dogs
All photos by Robin Lawrence Poses unless otherwise noted.
