Rice and chips

  Nazca, Peru
Monday, September 20, 2004

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September

Left the fall-out of Lima behind and headed south down the coast to Puerta Inca. The desert dunes and gorges were hypotic but the bus only stopped at pre-arranged rubbish dumps for a one sole tour of the worst toilets in South America.
All the tourists seemed to have abandoned Puerta Inca. There is a beach resort and a couple of rusting jet ski's. The ruins of the old Incan port are incredible and wind all the way up to a headland frequented by vultures. We had some cute company on the trip..

Nazca was spectacular and mysterious. Ancient watercourses spread out from the mountains like a spider's web across the plains. The pre-Incans then interlaces this with impressive geometric designs and animal doodles. From a light aircraft it was breath-taking, I only wish the door shut properly..

The Nazcan people were also famous for their pottery and we got a chance to visit one of the mastercraftsmen of the area whose father had devoted his life to rediscovering the lost art.

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