South America Peru Week 1

We had an amazing afternoon in Nazca driving round the desert in a sand buggy. We visited a number of places of archaelogical interest but also did some sand boarding which is just like snow but on sand. You even have to wax the board to make it go faster. Our driver was very skilled and did lots of fast driving across the desert on very bumpy and windy off road including climbing the sand dunes and tipping over the cornice edges.
It had everybody screaming!! Well nearly everybody!!

Along the way we came across a Nazca Sacrificial temple which is being excavated to find out more about it. This is one of 6 temples in the area. The Nazca people sacificed animals , birds and finally humans to their gods.

Further along the road the desert was covered in human remains from graves of the Nazca people. The graves had been desecrated by grave robbers.

The Nazca Lines are a very famous set of pictographs carved into the earth by the Nazca people. The Nazca people developed around 200AD and were around for 400 years.
The lines are put together with an ancient measurement and some are aligned astronomically. They are best seen from the air but even then they can be diificult to see.








Mrs Lockwood having just landed after the 30 minute flight over the Nazca Lines.











The Hummingbird is 97 metres long













The Astronaut is 35 metres high and many believe that as some of the shapes can only really be seen from the air that the Nazca people had been able to fly in something like a balloon in order to lay them out.










One of the Main Streets Nazca. Many houses look unfinished as they build till the money runs out and then add floors at a later date.












The coastal area from Lima to Nazca is mainly desert apart from where a river comes to the sea from the mountains then there is a strip of green land. Many houses are little more than shacks or shelters but as it hardly ever rains and the temperature is constant year round they do not have to protect against the weather.








Desert near Paracas. Goes on mile after mile.














The Ballesteros Islands are just off the coast of Peru near a town called Paracas. The islands are a mecca for birds and sea lions.


The cliff top is a mass of black birds. One Eyed Cormorants.








There are many types of birds including Humbolt Penguins. Penguins are only found in the southern hemisphere.












Also South American Pelicans














And Boobies.














In this area there are examples of pictures in the sand. This is the Paracas Candelabra
which is 180m high. The exact date and meaning is not entirely known but the more famous examples are the Nazca Lines.










Coming south from Lima many shanty towns by the road side are seen on the desert hillsides.













Between 1560's to the 1820's the Peruvian Inquisition tortured people who did not follow the faith. 100,000 people are known to have been tortured. This is one method as shown in the Inquisition museum in Lima. This follows much of what happened in Europe with the Spanish Inquisition and a shorter period with the Puritans in England.






There are many fine churches, cathedrals and palaces in Lima
This is Lima Cathedral and the Plaza Major











Inside Lima Cathedral is also spectacular with many fine carved displays in the side sections of the cathedral and churches. This was mass on Sunday but the doors remain open and tourists are welcome to walk in during the service as long as you are respectful.








Lima Cathedral