NAZCA LINES, July '09

The town of Nazca makes its money from many a passing tourist wanting to view the crazy patterns of the Nazca Lines. I was one of them, but only hung around long enough to get a flight over these gigantic shapes. I had been in touch the previous day with Jeorge, who escorted me in the early hours of the morning to the airport where he had a few connections ... I was therefore able to get a space on one of the fixed-wings in no time whereas some people had booked their trip almost a year in advance (it does help to be able to bargain with the right people, that goes for him and me - below).

A friend of Jeorge makes clay replicas of Inca, Moche and Paracas ceramics.

Hitch-hiking to Nazca, on the back of a bakkie.

I wasn´t the only one that was smiling from ear to ear!

Surface stones were overturned by the Nazca people, exposing the lighter soil underneath. Viewed from above, these formed huge shapes, still visible today. Why? That´s the best bit ... nobody knows!

Just look harder, people, come on ... they are really amazing! But you have to see them for youself so stop being so tight and pay up to experience it for yourself!

Sheeips and Han got a bit air-sick.

What not to bring on the plane ... including your SCUBA set!

July '09

NAZCA LINES

It was expensive to fly over the Nazca Lines, which have kept archeologists and the likes guessing for years, but well worth every cent!

I made contact with Jeorge one night via email, arranging to fly over the Nazca lines the next monring as my bus arrived in Nazca, southern Peru. Jeorge was a tour guide and was recommended by the travel-guide I had. Having arranged the fee and details, I arrived at 5 a.m., on the street as the bus companies operated independantly from small offices just off the main highway. Not knowing where I was, in the dark hours of the early morning, a solitary female, no Jeorge in sight, I seeked refuge at the closest hotel I could find, laughing at myself to have thought something this casual could have been pulled off. But, to my surprize, one phone call later and Jeorge and I were shaking hands in greeting. He had been drinking coffee waiting for me, a simple explanation. The skeptic in me kept looking out for signs of having been ripped-off as we took a taxi to the small airport. The deal we had seemed a bit shady, and could have been had it have happened with another guide. The weather was coming in and even though I was amongst the first to arrive at the fixed-wing runway, I had to wait three hours before boarding a six-man plane. The standard price and airport tax were the only other necessities I was charged. Jeorge kept me informed of the progress. The weather cleared eventually to a cloudless day and I squeezed into the first available single seat. I had booked last minute whereas some tours were arranged a year in advance. It helps being single on occassions and knowing the right person to go through. Even though I had a dent in my wallet after the flight and an uneasy stomach, I was ecstatic. The 40 minutes in the air were breath-taking. The certificate and Peruvian broach from Jeorge were a nice touch. We walked back to the bus stop via a friend's house, a local potter who makes ceramic replicas, dated BC, from the Nazca, Moche and Paracas cultures. The full-on demonstration I received of how a piece is made using clay and later painted made the skeptic in me wonder if this was just for show. But the genuinity and easy attitude of the man when it was clear I was not going to buy anything made me warm to him.

Nazca Lines, tick. Pottery demonstration, tick. Hopping onto another bus in a dazed state from being amazed and exhausted, double tick.