Paracas

A city in Peru that is access way to Ballesteros Island otherwise known as poor man’s Galapagos. 

There I took this beautiful late afternoon hike through the National Reserves.  It was beautiful.

They call the tour the Golden shadows hike.  Indeed it was that… the sunset was magnificent. The land turned golden with the sunset. 

Went again during the day. Some say the terrain looks like Mars and I was blown away.  If I ever get to Mars I will love it.

Ballesteros Island did not disappoint with sea lions and birds.  Can wait for Galapagos!

Huacachino

Huacachino , a desert oasis. 
Right smack dab in the middle of the sand dunes lies this oasis where you and sandboard and dune buggy. 

Went for a wild dune buggy ride. Just like a roller coaster.

Went sand boarding. Somewhat scary and tried not to fall off…

We rode off some more then watched the sunset…

Nazca

Everyone has heard of the Nazca lines.  Those geometric lines found that some say were made by aliens.  Who knows, but some here think the ancient civilization made the forms to point the way to water.  This ancient civilization is pre – Inca and dates over 2000 years ago.

You can see the shapes from the tower, but you can also fly in a small plane for the best view.

I saw the lines from the air. But my stomach was alittle queasy so didn’t manage to get good pictures.

Water was essential and they found a way to retrieve it by building aqueducts by hand… they are spiral holes that find their way to water.  They found 46 aqueducts in the area and 20 still used today.

Cahuachi overlooks the Nazca Lines and is thought to have been a ceremonial site. The site is believed to have been built over 2000 years ago. They had a 20 year drought that is thought to have lead to the abandonment about 500 years later. They have found mummies and other artifacts. They are still excavating there.

Among these ancient civilizations, the Chavin Tiwanaku and Wari had 3 figures they revered… the snake, representing land and under, the puma, representing strength, abaptability and power and the Condor representing soaring to the stars…

Water was of utmost importance to them. They could not live without it. They worshiped things of nature including the sun, stars and the moon.

Most believe that the Nazca Lines have to do with pointing where water could be found or pleasing the gods with water figures.

Whatever, we can only look in awe and wonder on how they could have done such feats. What is it that makes us think the ancient civilizations could not have possibly done these things on their own? Is it our own arrogance or lack of faith.