En route to Nazca on the Pan American highway across barren lands. We stopped for lunch at the viewing platform for three of the Nazca patterns. A charge of 2 sols to go up and view the nearest three patterns. You could just about see them but from a light aircraft is much better.
Arrived in Nazca and staying at the Hotel Suisse which is a nice camping complex. An enjoyable
evening ready for an early start to view the Nazca Lines.
The Nazca Lines are a large number of lines cut into the stony desert, geometrical figures, parallels, a monkey, killer whale, birds and much more on a huge scale. Located above the Ingenio valley, across the Ongenio river and on the plain around Palpa with the Pan American highway going through part of it the Nazca Lines are an incredible sight. These lines were etched on the pampa sands by the Nazca people and estimations indicate at around 400 BC and were continued to be made for another 1000 years. Only spotted from the air 70 years ago their meaning has tormented scientists the world over. Theories abound regarding their purpose, from hoax, alien contact, sun worship, astronomical calendar etc. One of their greatest investigators was Maria Reiche who lived and worked on the pampa for over 50 years surveying this incredible site.
We took off early morning and initially I was not impressed as I was expecting very large impressions in the desert. Once your eyes got accustomed to what you were actually looking for the figures became very clear and were incredibly impressive. In fact there were lines on a massive scale which are of a far bigger picture. There is still so much scientific work yet to be done here it is absolutely fascinating to imagine how it was constructed on such a vast scale and yet so accurately. Another amazing day on this roller coaster of an adventure.
Adios
Tony x
1-3. Our light aircraft ready for take off. Kirsten, Karen, Steve and I on another adventure
4. Sunrise
5. Condor
6. Monkey
7. Hummingbird
8. Spider
9. Bird
10. Tree
11. Dog
12. Some rugged hills
13. The Pan American highway running right through the middle of this vast area.
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