Nasca And The Lines

The ride to Nasca (local spelling, rather than Nazca) was sheer motorcycle nirvana. Motorcyclists who are viewing this blog will recognize what I mean as the video speaks for itself. For everyone else, well the scenery wasn't bad either. 

It was a long day in the saddle, 9 hours to cover the 220 miles. Starting in the lush mountains and topping out at about 14,400 on the high plain, the journey was completed in the coastal desert region, home to Nasca. 

Of course without the desert their would be no lines to observe. On average it rains in Nasca once a year, usually in February, and not much at that, just 4mm. That has helped preserve the lines and geoglyphs over their 2,000 year history. The most damage was done when the Pan-American highway was constructed, cutting one of the designs in half. Progress it is said. 

50 years ago a company wished to buy much of the land to plant vineyards. Mercifully after a local campaign the government stepped in to prevent the development from happening. 

The best way to see the lines is from the air; a flight was booked for the morning with an 8am pickup. It was worth it.

The astronaut.

 The monkey - with the swirly tail used by the tourism board in the P of Peru. 

 The hummingbird.

The flight lasted 45 minutes and circled above all the major geoglyphs. As we returned to the airport we passed over the cantalloc aqueduct built by the pre-Inca civilization to supply fresh water to Nasca and the ruins of the ancient city.

Nasca was well worth the visit. The weather was perfect, low 80's F and of course dry air. The town offered a good variety of food types; I elected not to have chicken, rice or French fries during my stay. More of the latter to come I am certain.

Heading back east into the mountains tomorrow.

T2