Advertisement
Published: September 22nd 2011
Edit Blog Post
Las Dunas
Las Dunas resort Trip to Ica
I am thoroughly confused about this trip to Ica. i under impression we are going to Ica for a Natural Products show. Today i find out it's for a Holiday in the sun. As you know the sun seldom shines in Miraflores in the Winter. So, the folks who can afford it go to Ica or one of the many sunny areas in Peru. We were suppose to leave Sunday but Yanina was sick.
Martin and Yanina pick me up at noon on Monday. Off we go to get on the Pan American Highway. The highway runs down the coast of Peru and, I think, most of South America. To my surprise it's a four lane highway. No free lunch in Peru, a toll booth awaits us. As you travel Peru you will find a toll booth if the road is good. The four lands only last a couple of hours and back to two lanes through small towns.
Poverty? Si, that's a resounding yes in Spanish. The houses an I use that word loosely are cubes. Construction is of woven mats, concrete and bricks. The houses can be poorly constructed because it never rains,
Las Dunas
Las Dunas resort no hurricanes, tornadoes and did I tell you the west side of the Andes is desert, sand dunes, dirt mountains with the Andes in the back ground. The ocean is beautiful with many resorts and private beach houses. Peru has a class system>>Rich--Poor, not much in between.
As we travel south beautiful green valleys appear. The water flows from the Andes. You see chicken houses and cattle on the out skirts of the fertile valleys. In and around Pisco, one of the green valley towns on the trip south they grow grapes an make the drink Pisco. This is where the world famous Pisc come from. The rage here in California and New York is "Pisco Sour" The drink Pisco is distilled wine, brandy--maybe? I must say Pisco sour is a great drink. Watch for it in your local bar, coming soon. Of course they grow vegatables. lots of corn.
We pass through a town called Cincha, Martin tells me the town is made up of mostly blacks. The Spaniards brought Africa slaves to this area for farming. You won't fine this information on any tours. I have noticed very few blacks in Lima or any other part
Flight to Nasca Lines
Flight to Nasca lines of Peru.
Las Dunas
We finally arrive in Ica, a nice size city bustling with traffic and building everywhere. Condos being built all around the city. As I said it's sunny year round and the temperature is always pleasant. I suppose people retire here.
The resort,Las Dunas is beautiful, built with a Spanish flare. Nice room with a small balcony, swimming pool and great food. The guest are mostly Japanese, lots of Japanese tourist in Peru, Germans, two or three North American couples and rounded out with Peruvians. Our stay is three days and two nighs. Martin and Yanina are here to relax, I choose to take a flight to see the Nasca lines on Tuesday.
Nasca Lines
I get up early, have breakfast and catch a taxi to the airport. The airport is very close and has flights to see the Nasca lines only. Nasca city is a two hour drive from Ica. You can stay in Nasca but the resorts are nicer here. The flight to the Nasca lines takes about thirty minutes with twenty minutes flying over the lines then returning to Ica. My flight is on a Cessna C 206 with
Humming Bird
Look Close, Humming Bird Pilot, co-pilot and four passengers, myself and three Japanese.
The thirty minute flight to the lines cruses at 5000 feet. Desert and mountains as far as you can see. We fly over Huachina Oasis, I will visit on the ground tomorrow. The pilot drops to 3000 feet and starts pointing out the figures on the desert floor. He banks left then right so passengers on both sides can see. I did take pictures, they did not turn out well. You can link to Snapfish to see them all. I'm not sure when these figures were made but I know before airplanes. I think over 1000 years ago. Amazing!
Huachina Oasis
The next morning I'm up early, Martin and Yanina sleep in. At noon we eat and head for Huachina Oasis on our way back to Miraflores. I flew over the Oasis yesterday and it is quite a site from above. In the middle of sand dunes you see a body of water and a small village. I have always wanted to go to a real Oasis, I watched a lot of Lawrence of Arabia as a child. You can actually stay in a hotel here. Dunes rise
Huachina Oasis
Beautiful Oasis all around, people sand surfing and dune buggy riding all about. Hippies from Argentina, Brazil, Spain, Chili and Columbia selling hand made bracelets and necklaces around the water. I spot a couple of women from the jungle selling beads, very intricate small bead work caught my eye. Be sure to see pictures in Snapfish. I bought several bracelets for souvenirs. We don't stay long as we have a four hour drive back to Miraflores.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.128s; Tpl: 0.011s; cc: 10; qc: 48; dbt: 0.0701s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
Robert Grant
non-member comment
Good Time
Sounds as if your having the time of your life. Thanks for sharing! Robert