Author: marionvermazen

We stayed in Nazca Monday night. Nazca is most well known for the Nazca Lines. These ancient figures etched into the desert floor were created by the Nazca people about 2000 years ago. Many people take tours to see the figures from small planes but we took a land tour this morning to see what we could from the ground. 

We went back out of town the way we came in yesterday.  We climbed a couple of towers and went to the Casa Museo Maria Reiche. Marie Reiche is the German women who helped publicize the lines and save them from destruction. It was amazing to me that at ground level or even from our bus yesterday you wouldn’t realize there was anything to see but from the tower you could clearly see that the giant figures were there. 

We finished our tour around noon and then at 2:30 we caught the bus to Arequipa. This time we were in the first class seats on the bottom floor of the bus. It was quire comfortable.  The first part of the trip was through an empty moonscape landscape. 

We were supposed to get to Arequipa about midnight.  Unfortunately with four hours to go our bus broke down. They brought out a replacement bus and we were back to cramped seats. We ended up getting to Arequipa about 4 am. 

Breakfast at the Gran Palma Hotel in Paracas was served on the roof overlooking the bay. Since our bus didn’t leave until 10:40 we were able to enjoy a relaxing breakfast this morning. 

The bus ride to Nazco was about four hours. It was mostly through empty desert but towards the end we did see some vineyards. 

In Nazca we are staying at a wonderful hotel called Casa Hacienda Nazca Oasis. It really is an Oasis. We were picked up at the bus station by the brother of the owner. This afternoon we relaxed by the pool and then had dinner at the hotel restaurant. 

This morning we went out walking in the Mira Flores part of Lima where we were staying. Our hotel was only a few blocks from the ocean. 

We took a one o’clock bus for Om Lima to Paracas. It was the first time we have used the Cruz Del Sur bus line. It was by far the best bus ride so far.  For one thing they only has three seats across upstairs. We were in the very front seat. 

Paracas is about four hours south of Lima. The route is all desert so we drove through sand the whole way. 

We had fish for dinner on the beach. 

This afternoon after we arrived we made reservations to take a boat trip to the Islas Ballestas tomorrow morning. 

We are staying in a very nice hotel – Casa Cielo in the Mira Flora part of Lima. It is a very upscale neighborhood. It sure is a world away from all the other parts of Peru we have visited!

This morning we headed to the Historic Center of Lima to explore. We toured the Convent of San Francisco. Unfortunately we couldn’t take any pictures inside. They had a wonderful library. As many as 20,000 people were buried in the catacombs under the church. 

Initially when we arrived in the center the Plaza Mayor was blocked off by police. We never did figure out why.  But after we finished at the Convent San Francisco we were able to visit the Plaza Mayor and the beautiful Plaza San Martin. 

In the afternoon we went back to our hotel and took naps. Then about five we headed out to the Museo Larco. It is an absolutely wonderful museum of Peruvian archeology. It is a private museum. My guide book says it is the best in Lima. 

One of the most impressive things about the museum was the storage. The sign explained that while all museums have storage the Museum Larco is one of the only museums whose storage is on display. There were so many artifacts in storage it was hard to believe. 

The museum also had a large erotic gallery. As the signs explained sexuality was an important part of the ancient culture and religion. 

The museum also had a wonderful restaurant. We enjoyed one of the best dinners of our trip.