Paracas, Peru to Nazca, Peru

Today will be a travel day. Leaving Paracas at 11 am. Arriving in Nasca around 3 pm. Nothing planned for this morning except the morning rituals and probably walk to the bus station.

After I booked my ticket, I found out that today is a festival day in Paracas. I could miss my bus, but probably not. I may see some festivities before I leave.

I had my breakfast of oatmeal and banana at 7, then my early lunch before going the the bus at 10:30. Guacamole on tortillas.

Had to say goodbye to the cats. This one finds a new bed to sleep in every night.

I didn't see any festivities on the way, but did see a few people in traditional attire.

I'm on the bus now. We should pull out in just a few minutes.

The bus ride to Nasca went travelled mainly along the coast. The whole time in the coastal desert of Peru, which included passing through some incredible desolate mountain terrain. I was in the second row in the upper deck. After the first stop in Huacachina, the people in the front row got off. I should have moved up for better viewing and picture opportunities for the balance of the trip, but I didn't.

I meet up again with a guy, Mario from Italy, that I shared a room with in Paracus. He had left a day before me to go to Huacachina. He was one of the people that boarded the but in Huacachina to continue onto Nasca.

Arriving in Nasca at the bus terminal we were immediately approached by 2 women pre-selling tours. Marios schedule was different than mine. He was catching a later bus to continue south later in the evening, but wanted to so stuff before he left Nasca. He wanted to go see the lines going by taxi, backtracking about 25 minutes to viewing towers along the road. By that time I had talked myself into taking a plane tomorrow to view the lines. This is where the clutter began. 

The tour hawkers first of all said we could catch a flight still that afternoon. Mario was not planning to fly, but then relented. So, we hop in the car and head to the airport. On arriving at the airport, we find out that we were too late to fly today. Then we revert to plan B. Go with the car to the viewing towers. I really didn't want or need to do this because I plan to fly tomorrow, but they would only go if 2 of us went. I didn't want to screw up Mario's opportunity to see the geoglyphs, so I agreed to go. But we needed to pay with cash, which neither one of us had. First stop was an ATM to collect money. That done. We drop off one of the ladies, then pick up the 2nd lady's son and grandson and finally head out of town to the viewing towers. Remember we didn't arrive in Nasca until after 3, so the daytime hours are slipping away quickly. The sun is getting low in the sky.

Making a long story a little shorter, we arrived at the towers (after I insisted that we pass up the 1st view point and go to the towers first because the sun was going down). We got there in time, ascended the tower and were able to see the geoglyphs there. When we were done there, we then went back to the first viewpoint. I didn't go up, I was still planning to go on the plane tomorrow.

By now it is dusk, Mario was a little disappointed because he also wanted to visit the aqueductos. Even without the extra running around, I don't think it would have been possbile for him anyway.

They dropped me at my hostel and to my surprise, I got a private room with 2 twin beds and no roommate for $9 for the night.

I needed something to eat. The host here directed me to a restaurant about 4 blocks way, but on the way I past a street cart selling some really good looking chicken. I bought a plate of chicken with rice and fries and headed back to the hostel to eat.

After eating I took a refreshing shower and hunkered down for the evening.