Nasca to Arequipa

Ah ha, I´ve finally been allowed to update the blog. I won´t talk in third person due to recent complaints. As Dylan said, we were going to see the Nasca Lines. That meant a rude 7am start and a taxi to the airport where we (with a Dutch couple and a token septic) were shown a very old video about the Nasca Lines. Despite the presenter´s flares and bad hair do, it was really helpful to get some info on the various "theories" about why the Lines are there. Then we went up in a Cesna - it was soooo cool. We had this hilarious pilot who would yell far too loudly each time we were coming up to one of the "figures" on the ground so we had time to look out the window. Then he´d bank the other way so the other side could see. It was excellent fun and no, Dylan was not allowed to drive or land, nor did he get sick which was a bonus as I was sitting next to him.

The Lines are amazing - huge figures of all sorts, monkey, spider, whale, little alien looking thing. They´d also made these extremely long straight lines that went on for miles. How the people made them and why is mind boggling. I´ve read some bad press on it from other tourists but I enjoyed the whole experience.

As part of the "tour" we then went to the old cemetary where we got to see very well preserved Nasca mummies. The cemetary was out in the middle of the desert and we were driven out there in a Dodge Coronet. It felt a little like being in Mad Max as our guide drove like a bat out of hell through the sand (whatever that means, it´s hard to describe) which once used to, was cool fun. Then it was off to a mine where an ex-miner who would have been at home on stage in the West End entertained us while telling us how they mined certain things etc. He then picked up a guitar and sang "I Did it My Way" to us. We then had a long afternoon in Nasca passing time as our bus to Arequipa didn't leave until 11pm. All I´ll say about the 9 hour bus ride is that it was shite. Upon arrival in Arequipa we found ourselves a lovely hostel. I also discovered that my calves, ankles and feet had swollen to elephant man proportions (nice). So after small panic about the likelihood of DVT, a quick text to my family doctor (thanks Owen and Mum) calmed the nerves although I now know that apparently I have bad circulation. You learn something new every day. The nice lady at the hostel made us a yummy breakfast and then we went to sleep. Arequipa is a very pretty place. Nasca and Pisco are very dusty whereas Arequipa is in a fertile valley so you don´t feel like you´ve been rolling around in the dirt all the time. Our first introduction to the main square was Santa Claus directing traffic and selling chocolate. So we watched him for a while as we ate some lunch. Last night the main square was all set up for something to happen but nothing did for hours. We know, as we sat there waiting. I lie, something did happen. A man dressed in a dress with fake boobs and bum (in giganic proportions, you can imagine) came up to us trying to sell something then lifted up his dress to reveal an enormous (fake, thankfully) penis which he waved in my face. This of course was hilarious, to him at least. Later we discovered that the main event was some sort of beauty contest. Glad we waited for that one. We then decided that the next day (today) we´d do nothing, and that´s what we´re doing, sort of. Soon we´ll go and check out some of the tours you can do around here. I want to go to the Colca Canyon to see the condors and do a bit of a hike through there. I know Dylan is keen on the white water rafting so we´ll see what we can find.

 

As for ailments, my antibiotics blasted the bastard bug that infested me so I feel much better. We both have clogged sinus´s, my legs aren´t swollen anymore, we both feel a bit vague. I´m looking at this first 10 days of the holiday as an adjustment period where parts of me breakdown and rebuild. I´m now not allowed to get sick ever again! That´s it for now. Next update soon. Kat