Flying over the Nazca Lines

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Yesterday was the Nazca Lines. The day before we had travelled from Arequipa to Lima by plane and with delays, etc we did not arrive at our hotel in Lima until 9.00pm. Yesterday morning we were up early to catch the 7.00am coach to Ica. Very security minded as after searching our bags and body the security people took a video of every passenger. Must have a problem with hijacking coaches over here!!!!
The coach was very comfortable but had to resort to listening to my IPod to block out the dreadful background music that was being played. Does anybody enjoy listening to this intrusive sound?
The coach trip to Ica lasted 4.5 hours and the further out we got from Lima there was a noticeable decrease in the standard of buildings and their surroundings. From gleaming office blocks and shopping centres in Lima to old and dilapidated buildings made of mud bricks and having corrugated roofs on the road to Ica. The towns we went through can best be described as shanty towns and there must be resentment brewing up there.
Then we arrived out our hotel in Ica which to most of the residents living in the city would probably appear to be paradise. Lush green grass, swimming pools, large restaurants and individual rooms being larger than the local resident.
We were gathered together soon after arriving after arriving and taken off to the local airstrip for our flight over the Nazca Lines. Our aircraft was a 12 seater light aircraft and we squeezed ourselves in and soon we were in the air.
What are the Nazca Lines?. Dispersed over the high desert plateau they are a collection of geoglyphs comprising more than 70 figures of humans and animals together with over 10,000 lines. They were etched into the plains between 500BC and AD 500 and were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. There are differing views as to their purpose but the favoured view is that they are part of of a huge astronomical calendar to commune with the gods and thus secure water and blessings for crops.
After about 30 minutes of flying we were over the lines and it was a sight worth seeing. Large figures in the sand with lines here there and everywhere. The pilot took us close to some of the figures and banked on one side and then the next so that we could all get a good view. It was difficult to get any decent photographs as the plane kept moving up and down and the structure of the window did not help.
After lying over the Lines for about 20 minutes we were back off to Ica and terra firma. Wonderful trip and yet another experience in Peru. After landing we all went back to to the hotel for a drink and to recover

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Photos

Getting on board
Boarding the plane for The Lines

On board the plane
Liked being packed in a flying cigar tube

The Nazco Lines
Some of the Lines photograhed from the plane

Comments

[John from Totnes]

Sorry for lack of photos
Due to technical problems I unable to put photographs on this entry. As soon as I am able I will do the necessary

[lynne birch]

Traveller's return
Looking forward to seeing you step off that train at Totnes station at midnight on Friday and I'll bring my camera for the final photo: "The Traveller Returns". Seems longer that three and a half weeks since we said goodbye and you went off on the train to Heathrow. Be good to be standing on the other side of the platform this time to greet the homeward train. PS I showed my father the blog last week when he was staying at Golden Oktober. He was very amused by your jungle experience. Said it wasn't at all like his Burma experience! xxxxxxxxxxxxx