Some Old Lines

We arrived back to our hotel in Lima mid afternoon, settled in and then went for a walk to the waterfront to watch the sun go down over the Pacific Ocean, followed by dinner.

Next day, after breakfast we decided to do some exploring along the waterfront to Barranco, we were staying the Miraflores area. First, we found an Artisanal Market to explore. From here continued to the waterfront where we walked along until we reached Barranco. Unfortunately, we forgot to take a camera along so the following photo’s are from our phones.

As walked back to Miraflores we came across these murals.

We actually walked 12kms/7.5 miles, just wondering through the streets, stopping at things we thought were interesting. We found a restaurant close to the hotel for dinner before heading back to the hotel for a nightcap.

Next morning, we were picked up and taken to a bus station to catch a bus to Paracas.

Paracas is located about a 3.5 hour drive south along the Pacific coast, approximately 260km/162 miles. The scenery was not very interesting as all the buildings outside the city are brownish in colour and the landscape is a sandy-brown colour.

Arriving around 4:30pm we checked into our hotel which conveniently was right across the street from the where the bus stopped.

View from our room.

We walked along the seafront in Paracas, this small town is quickly becoming a tourist destination. The sun was starting to set as we strolled along looking for a place to have dinner.

Next morning, we were up and out as we had a flight booked to fly over the Nazcar Lines, flying over them is the best way to see them. Stewart had been wanting to visit these lines since he was about 14 years old after reading Erich von Daniken’s ‘Chariot of the Gods’.

The Nazca Lines are a group of very large geoglyphs formed by depressions or shallow incisions made in the soil of the Nazcar Desert in southern Peru. They were created between 500 BCE and 500 CE.
Most lines run straight across the landscape, but there are also figurative designs of animals and plants, made up of lines. The individual figurative geoglyph designs measure between 0.4 and 1.1 km (.2 and .7 mi) across. The combined length of all the lines is over 1,300 km (808 mi), and the group cover an area of about 50 sq km (19 sq mi). The lines are typically 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6 in) deep. They were made by removing the top layer of reddish-brown iron oxide-coated pebbles to reveal a yellow-grey subsoil. The width of the lines varies considerably, but over half are slightly over one-third meter (just over 1 foot) wide. In some places they may be only a foot (30.5 cm) wide, and in others reach 6 feet (1.8 m) wide.
Some of the Nazca lines form shapes that are best seen from the air (~1,500 ft, 457 m), though they are visible from the surrounding foothills and other high places. The shapes are usually made from one continuous line. The largest ones are about 370 m (1,200 ft) long. Because of its isolation and the dry, windless, stable climate of the plateau, the lines have mostly been preserved naturally. Extremely rare changes in weather may temporarily alter the general designs. As of 2012, the lines are said to have been deteriorating because of an influx of squatters inhabiting the lands.
The figures vary in complexity. Hundreds are simple lines and geometric shapes; more than 70 are zoomorphic designs of animals such as a hummingbird, spider, fish, llama, jaguar, monkey, lizard, dog and a human. Other shapes include trees and flowers. Scholars differ in interpreting the purpose of the designs, but in general, they ascribe religious significance to them. They were designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. (Wikipedia)

Paracas is in the distance just before the coast turns right.

This is what we were hoping to see.

Whale
Astronaut

Monkey

Dog
Hummingbird
Spiral
Spider
Seaweed & Condor
Flower
Heron

Pelican

Tree, Hand & Lizard (partial)
Parrot

As we flew back to Paracas there were other types of lines, though they were mainly straight.

We returned back to Paracas in time for and early dinner. Next morning, we had a tour booked to visit Paracas National Reserve, La Carttedrale this was a short drive south of Paracas, This a part of the coastal desert.
Paracas National Reserve is a protected area located in the region of Ica, Peru and protects desert and marine ecosystems for their conservation and sustainable use. There are also archaeological remains of the Paracas culture inside the reserve. (Wikipedia)

In the following photo, the black is the road. To create the road they use salt, the black comes from the tires of the vehicles that drive on it.

There are also fossils in the area.

The Fossils were mainly seashells.

We visited a coastal lookout over looking the cliffs, these cliffs almost reminded us of the White Cliffs of Dover.

There was a nice beach within the reserve.

We found the geology of the cliffs interesting with the various layers.

After another night it was time to head back to Lima. But first we had a boat trip out to Reserva Nacional Islas Ballestas, on our way there we would see the Candelabra geoglyph, Peruvian red footed boobies, Vultures, Humboldt penguins and sealions among others.

The Paracas Candelabra, also called the Candelabra of the Andes, is a well-known prehistoric geoglyph found on the northern face of the Paraca Peninsula at Pisco Bay in Peru. Pottery found nearby has been radio carbon dated to 200 BCE, the time of the Paracas culture. The design is cut two feet (0.61 m) into the soil, with stones possibly from a later date placed around it. The figure is 595 feet (181 meters) tall, large enough to be seen 12 miles (19.3 km) at sea.
A variety of popular myths have arisen: one attributes it to Jose de San Martin; another suggests it is a Masonic symbol (see Freemasonry); and yet another that sailors created it as a sign which they could view at sea for landfall. Some believe it represents the motif known as a Mesoamerican world tree. (Wikipedia)

Humboldt Penguins

The mist started to roll-in as we started to head back to shore.

As we headed back a sea bird flew along side of the boat, then decided to join us all, on board, the happy little chap waddled its way to the back of the boat where we were both sitting. The guide had to wrap his coat around it to launch it back into the air off the boat.

From here we collected our luggage from the hotel and boarded our north bound bus to Lima for our last night in Peru. On the bus we were surprised they served a hot lunch just like on an airplane.

Next: Quito

4 thoughts on “Some Old Lines”

  1. enjoyed your report, Doug and Gail from McCrae Estates. We are home safe and sound, we came home a month early and sold our house for a price that made us happy so we no longer have ties to Mazatlan except for our friends who have decided to summer in Mazatlan till the scare has subsided.

    1. Thanks Darren,
      You should be there in about two years LOL!!
      Stay safe, enjoy Mexico and its people while your there.
      Stew & Cat

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