Pisco, Peru, is a small resort and fishing village about three hours from Lima and a gateway to Nazca and the Paracas National Reserve, the Ballestas Islands wildlife or the ruins of the well-preserved Inca outpost of Tambo Colorado. The Nazca Lines are known throughout the world and are part of a larger group of similar tracings that have been found all along the western South American coast. No one really knows their intended purpose or how they were created, but several theories have been offered.
The pattern we were able to see as our captain maneuvered our ship so we could get a clear view, was a large candelabra which had been carved into the hill, and is visible only from a height. Others are formed from piles of dark rocks that have been arranged in geometric patterns, simple long lines or shapes representing animals. The mystery is that they can only been seen from the skies, leading people to suggest that ancient people might have been able to fly over the desert using hot air balloons or similar devices.
Our group took a chartered flight from Pisco to Cusco, the first stop on our journey to Machu Picchu. I admit I was a little tentative when I saw that the runway looked like it was simply packed earth, and that the local employees were taking pictures of the large chartered aircraft that had arrived to pick us up! However, there were no problems and we enjoyed a smooth, pleasant flight.
My adventure was beginning!
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