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Ed's Travels
Hello everybody. AS you will have probably seen i have added a load more photos for you to look through. Since i last updated this site i have been very busy.
On Sunday we had to get the bus from Lima to Pisco so we set off for the public bus stationa t lunch time. We were all pleasantly suprised when we got there to t¡ see that the buses were infact very pleasant. After a 4 hour bus ride to Pisco, through some very barren landscaped consisting of nothing much but sand, we arrived at our hotel for the night which was bang in the centre of Pisco. As we had a couple of hours until supper we all set off to explore the only 2 places that Jose said were safe for tourists. This took all of about 20 minutes to see so we ended up buying some beer and headed back to the roof terrace of the hotel where we watched the sun set.
For supper we stayed in the hotel because Jose said that it probaly served the best food in Pisco, and he was right. Myself and Jose shared a huge pan of Pieala which was probably the best that i have had. Not bad for only 4 pounds each.
Monday envolved and early start because we were all going on the Ballestas Island tour. We were picked up from the Hotel at 7:30 and transported to the harbour. Even at that time in the morning it was getting very hot, i would say the late twenties. We boarded our speed boat and headed out for the 20 minute journey to the islands. Just as we left the harbour we were very lucky in the fact that we came across a large group of Dolphins. After some photos of the Dolphins we headed out at full speed to the Islands. When we arrived you could hardly see the islands because of the sheer volume of birds there. As you can see just about from one of the photos we even saw Penguins. AS well as the penguins we also saw alot of see lions and there little baby sea lions, which was great.
After we had seen everything we headed back to the harbour where we were picked up by our private minibus that was going to take us to Nasca via a winery and the oasis of Hacachuana.
First stop was the winery which makes Pisco, the national drink of Peru. This envoved a guided tour of how they make the Pisco and then the bit we had all looked forward to, the tasting. We got to taste pure Pisco, pisco and lemon, and Pisco sweet wine just to name a few. After this we left and headed to the Hacachuana Oasis where we had some lunch. After luch, which was really good local food, 3 of us decided that we were going to have a go at sandboarding on the sand mountains that surrounded the Oasis.. After what seemed like an age we managed to reach the top. BY this time the sun was high in the sky and it was really really hot, with even the sand nearlly being to hot to touch. We all line up at the top of what i would say was the steepness of a black run and just tried to go straight down. It was great fn, but when we got to the bottom we decided that it was too much effort to do it again.
From the Oasis we jumped back on the minibus for the 4 hour trip to Nazca. The scenery on this trip in parts was very dramatic with times when we were driving through huge flat expanses of desert and other times when we were descending down the windy roads through the mountains. We eventually arrived at our hotel in Nasc which suprised us all because to get to it we had to drive along a dirt road for about 10 minutes and then at the end was this very comfortable looking place with a swimming pool and very nice rooms. WE stayed at the hotel for supper where we were antertained by some local dancers.
It was another busy day today with another eary start. Today was the optional flight over the Nasca lines which i descided to take as it is the best way of seeing the lines. We went in six seater little planes and we dipped and swerved throught the sky for 40 minutes, which was long enough for me, because at the end my breakfast began to catch up with me. But it was by far the best way to see the lines and i thoughrally enjoyed it. After the flight we went to look around an ancient Nasca cemetary that had bee excavated. In was in the middle of the dessert and it was absolutly boiling. Then this afternoon we had free time to explore Nacsa which i did before heading back to the hotel to sit by the pool and read my book-.
Tonight we are taking a night bus from Nasca to Arequipa where we should arrive tomorrow at about 7:30am.
It was great to hear that Oxford won, please remeber not to tape over the tape that you recorded it on. I cannot believe that everyone is still ill but i suppose as everyone is around each other every day it is hardly supprising.
I will write again soon. Send my love to everyone. BYE
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