Adrenaline !

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So after Trujillo we went by nightbus to Lima, the capital of Peru. This time I hardly slept (which was due to a cappucino after dinner in a very nice Italian restaurant), so was a bit tired when we arrived...

Lima has quite a bad reputation (being a dangerous, ugly place) but in reality we were pleasantly surprised. It has some very nice neighbourhoods, like Mileflores and Barranco and parts of the city make me think of Barcelona.

Lima has 8 million inhabitants and is thus very big. 80% of the time a big cloudy fog hangs around the city since the El Nino current and the Humboldt current bang into each other around Lima. Fortunately this time of the year it is warm and sunny although winter is approaching.

As soon as we arrived we went on a city tour in order to know what we could do in the following days. This was a very good idea, we could never have seen so many things on our own in so little time. Very efficient.

After the tour and our obligatory daily ice-cream we went to the Spanish Inquisition museum and visited the basement where prisoners were tortured in previous times. Next day was reserved for a visit to a local market, long beach-walk (with again the ice-cream) and going to the movies (Apocalypto from Mel Gibson - not for those who don´t like violence.... but enjoyed being able to follow a movie in Spanish !). Also enjoyed a good (local !) coffee @ Starbucks !

After Lima we were off to Pisco, 235 km south of Lima. Pisco is named after a locally produced grape brandy, used in a popular drink called Pisco Sour. Our lodge was beautifully located near the Pacific Ocean.

From Pisco you can go and visit the Islas Ballestas by boat. So that´s we did of course. Early in the morning we took the boat and quickly reached the rock/island where we saw sealions, penguins, pelicans and many other birdlife varieties. Was really great and can´t wait to show you the pictures!

After a short visit to a Pisco brandy distillery, we continued our way on the Pan-American highway to go to Ica. Around there you have the worlds highest sanddunes and they are truly enormous, never seen anything like that before. With a big so-called buggy we crossed up the dunes, nearly beating all laws of gravity (it was scary at times).

Once up the dunes we did sandboarding (using same board as with snowboarding). Since I never did any snowboarding I was quite keen on trying sandboarding, but the guide told me a lot of people break their bones doing it for the first time, so that put me off a bit... So instead you just lie on the board and go down ! Amazing adrenaline kick ! In the middle of this enormous arid desert we found an oasis. Very special to see (also). Afterwards we chilled out @ a nearby swimming pool.

Now we are in Nazca, famous for the mysterious Nazca lines which form a striking network in the desert consisting of over 800 lines, 300 figures and some 70 animal and plant drawings. The ancient lines were mostly made by removing sun-darkened stones from the desert surface to expose the lighter stones below. Up till today it is still a big mystery who constructed the lines and for which reason. Some claim the lines were an astronomical calendar.

With a light aircraft (4 passengers in total, so again the real Flying Doctors experience!), we overflew the 11 drawings that can be found in the sand. Very unique experience, but felt quite nauscious, the plane went up and down and left and right.

For the remainder of today, we are enjoying again the swimming pool and thus having a lazy afternoon. Tonight we´ll go by nightbus to Arequipa, Peru´s second biggest city.

I have been travelling now for 3 weeks and time really flies when you are having fun ! So many things happen and I have to force myself to write in my diary regularly, otherwise you quickly forget all the things that happen. Sorry if the English on this blog is not always flawless but have to type quickly so mistakes can happen...

Will keep you posted !

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Comments

[nelleke]

Hoi Marieke Lees dat je al veel gezien en beleefd hebt,ben wel een beetje jaloers.Wij gaan het Loiregebied verder ontdekken van 27-4 tot -6-5. Geniet in goede gezondheid groet,Nelleke.