Ipapashiwe: 11.11.2016
When we arrived in Nazca by bus, we unfortunately were the only tourists getting off. All taxi drivers, hostel representatives, and tour operators rushed towards us, trying to sell us their unbeatable offers. We wanted to take our time and collect our luggage, but all our 'No, gracias' were in vain and the people continued to bombard us. Out of spite, we decided not to take a taxi from the bus terminal to the hostel as planned, but instead walk a few meters and hail a taxi ourselves. Unfortunately, all the taxis were either occupied, in miserable condition, or didn't know where the hostel was (!). Now it definitely got too annoying to continue walking with our heavy backpacks in 35°C heat. So we decided to walk to another hostel that was closer. And it turned out to be a stroke of luck: affordable, a nice room, and the owner gave us great tips.
For example, she suggested that we visit the Planetario and have them explain some background information about the Nazca Lines. It was really fascinating and helpful. We learned that the lines and figures were drawn in the desert sand over thousands of years. The top layers of sand and stones, which were darkened by the sun, were removed, revealing the lighter layers underneath. There are various theories about the meaning of the lines, suggesting that they could be related to water scarcity or the worship of gods.
On the second day, our flight over the Nazca Lines was already scheduled for the morning. We took off in a small plane with a total capacity of 6 people for our 30-minute flight. It was very impressive to see the lines and figures from the air and get a sense of their enormous dimensions. The many tight turns in this small and shaky plane, however, made Carole especially relieved to have solid ground under her feet again. All in all, the flight was a fantastic and unforgettable experience.