Oct 13, 2010

Arequipa to Nazca

Day 10, Oct, 13, 2010

We left Arequipa this morning after receiving our clean laundry, we headed out of town. The road out is used by mostly truckers and is steep and twisty. Had lots of fun driving like the locals and passing at your own discretion. Then a long trek down to the ocean. Arequipa is about 2300 meters above sea level and lies in the shadows of a few volcanos that are snow capped. Once down to the ocean, we stopped at a seaside hostel for lunch. The first official lunch on the road. It was great! local Fish and Chips, Peruvian style. and some sort of salad. wow!


Then down the road. Just after Ocona we got caught up in some twisties the likes of what I have never seen. Beautiful pavement, twisties by the ocean, Michael and I danced through the corners for over an hour. About 60 kms of righteous turns, powering through corners and hills, braking through downhill switchbacks, The grin lasted hours. Then we were punctuated by more sand, sometimes blowing cross ways over the road. At one point we had to slowdown because of the dunes developing on the roadway. Then back to more twisties. Most of the day was spent of the coast of Peru. It was exactly what we came for. 


We arrived in Nazca about 4 pm and found our place for the night. After getting caught up with Julie, Michael and I caught a taxi into "el Centro" for dinner. We talked to a nice Dutch couple at dinner and checked out the streets.  Tomorrow, we fly over the "lines" something I've wanted to do since 1973 when I watched "Chariots of the Gods"


2 comments:

  1. Mark: Sounds like you're getting over the first days of confusion and settling into a nice routine (how's the Spanish coming along?). The pictures are great and tell a story by themselves. Can't wait to see the "lines" from the air.

    Keep on riding and keep your head down.

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  2. Hi Guys,

    things are getting better every day....

    Thanks for the comment.

    Miss you

    Mark and Mike

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