Blogs from Ica, Peru, South America - page 8

mit dem zuverlässigen cruz del sur bus (auch nach mehrmaliger nachfrage wurde uns von sämtlichen einheimischen bussen abgeraten - quasi alle touristen werden darin beklaut, inklusive zerschnittener rucksäcke…) fahren wir mittags richtung ica, der wüstenstadt. quer durch die nazca-linien führt die panamericana. der highway wurde (angeblich) gebaut, bevor die linien entdeckt wurden. und so kreuzt der glatte asphalt viele freigeräumte, glatte nazca flächen, sogar eine figur wird mittig einfach durchschnitten! die wüstenlandschaft nazcas hinter uns, türmen sich rechts und links kleinere sandberge. die wüste geht weiter, nur verändert sie sich etwas. nach zwei stunden pfeilgerader straße, erreichen wir ica und von dort geht es mittels taxi in die nur minuten entfernte oasen-stadt huacachina. markus besorgt noch kurz tickets für unser nächstes ziel, paracas, lässt mich also für einige minuten ... read more

Buenos Chicos! I left Lima and took at 5 hour bus to Ica. I left Lima and it was slightly cold and arrived in Ica to the beaming sun! I was welcomed at the bus station by one of my hostel owners, Gian Carlo. Himself and his brother, Yosef, own the hostel in Ica. I treated myself to a single room as my last night in Lima was not a pleasant one with two girls arriving in my dorm room after midnight and making as much noise as possible to keep me awake. I dropped off my stuff and I asked Gian Carlo where the cash machine was and he said he would come with me. Along the way, he took me to different historical places around the town and shared a bit of history with ... read more

Wednesday 9th April (Odyssey Day 152) We left Huaraz at 0830 this morning, well just after actually since we were running a bit late. Emma gave a mini briefing and told us she would go through the rest of the itinerary for the trip at dinner tonight. There had been a few whispered complaints circling among the group about not knowing what was coming up in the next section after Peru, and though I’d rather not look too far ahead myself, I do understand the desire to know what is coming in more detail. We headed back toward the coast again, to the southern part of Peru. It was a lovely drive back through the mountains toward the coastal plains once more. However the stop for tonight was to be just before the plains, as we ... read more

Day 41 Today was a free morning allowing for a welcome sleep-in after the late night drinks last night. After breakfast in pleasant temperature we walked the Miraflores promenade overlooking the beach to get some much needed exercise. We returned to the hotel by 1pm to load our luggage into a minivan back to Lima's bus station for another local bus to our next stop, Paracas (approx 3 hrs). The trip down was along the coast with some obvious nice beachside housing scattered along the way while on the opposite side of the highway the initial outlook was mostly bald sandy hills occasional scattered with shanty towns but then opening up to some agricultural farming on flat plains. Paracas & Pisco are neighbouring small fishing towns and the gateway to the Ballestas Islands and the Paracas ... read more

Thursday 6th February (Odyssey Day 90) We departed lovely Cusco at 0700 this morning, since we have a difficult drive over the mountains. We left Maddie and Lou for a few days and they will catch us up in Lima. Getting out of Cusco was interesting and we got lost trying to find the right road. The satnav wasn’t much help and it took over an hour to get fully out of the city. I don’t envy Simon that job, as the roads are narrow, the corners blind, and the drivers reckless! We headed through the mountains again and the way we drive through the clouds is still breathtaking for me. The scenery is always amazing and hasn’t yet lost its grandeur. I doubt it ever will. Having grown up in Perth (Australia), where there are ... read more