Lima & the Nasca Lines

So we are now on our final day of the honeymoon, feeling trepidatious about the epic journey back to the UK. We are staying in a five star hotel (thanks Helen!) with the best breakfast of the trip (French toast, Danishes, pork belly and more fruit than you can shake a stick at). On our last day in Cusco we had an awesome activity day on the river Urubamba, which snakes acoss Peru, passing Machu Picchu, feeding into the Amazon and ultimately ending up in the Atlantic Ocean. First of all we went white water rafting (thanks Rosie and Nick!). It was amazing - the rapids in Peru are grade 3, reaching grade 4 and even 5 in the rainy season (we are now at the end of the rainy season/just entering the dry season). No one fell in, to our guides disappointment, even when we began standing up for the grade 1 Rapids. After a few days of being driven around, it was really nice to be active. After lunch we then went to the zip lines (Thanks Claire and Craig!) which snaked over the trees and across the river. Safety isn't as important in Peru as in England, and we only used one carrabeena when climbing the insubstantial ladder to the first zip line. The zip line itself was incredibly fast, and it was amazing to be flying through the trees with a view of the mountains and the river below us. Unfortunately we didn't get any pictures of either endeavour, as we left the camera safely ensconced at the hotel. The next day we flew from Cusco to Lima, the capital of Peru and home to 1/3 of all Peruvians. Lima is located in a desert, and the only capital drier than Lima is Cairo in Egypt. Much like LA, the city is surprisingly green. On our first night we went to a light show at the fountain park in the city centre. One of the fountains was a labyrinth, which of course I careered into, and then became stuck. There were lots of thin jets of water that would spurt in unison at different heights, sometimes stopping altogether. When they stopped a battalion of children (plus me) would rush into the centre, and then try and escape whilst the jets spurted at different heights and frequencies. It was great fun. There was also a more sedate tunnel which we walked through, and a mahoosive line of fountains which were multicoloured. We also stopped to get a chorizo burger (the chips were inside the burger. Amazing) from a street vendor, which we munched as we wandered around.

Labyrinth fountain

The next day we pootled down to Nasca, which is a few hours down the coast towards Chile. The flight over the Nasca lines was awesome (thanks Harriet & Tim, Stephen & Mary and Chris and Judith!) although it did make me feel a bit sick afterwards. Nick was grinning like a Cheshire Cat throughout, and practically bounced out of the plane afterwards (whilst I slithered to the ground and tried not to throw up). The plane was tiny, with only six tourists and two pilots in each. They would wheel around each of the patterns so each side of the plane got a good view. The view of the desert as a whole was also incredible. Nobody knows why the ancient nascas made these patterns 1500 years ago, and research is still being done to try and work out whether they had religious meanings. It could be that they were for the benefit of pachamama, the ancient Mother Earth. 

Shaman

Tree (left) and bird (right)

Hummingbird

We ate ceviche for dinner, which is a Peruvian delicacy of raw fish and lime. So much lime! I think there was also coriander and garlic in there, but honestly it was hard to tell over the overpowering lime flavour. We then returned to Lima and had a couple of days chilling out in the hotel and by the sea, where we met Paddington Bear.   So, that's it. We are now at the airport waiting for our flight back to Europe. I am sad to leave this amazing continent, and I want to say again how grateful we are to everyone who donated towards our honeymoon! Thank you to Gran & Grandad, Uncle Harry & Auntie Wendy, Phillip & Ruth, Nick's HCV lab, Ciaran & Erin, Jo & Tom and finally Kate & Hilary for helping towards our flights. Thanks as well to the Davies family, Clare Breare, Ciaran & Erin, Donall, Roberta & Ross and finally Jack & Helena for our meals whilst we are here. I only got food poisoning once, which I take as a win! I hope I haven't forgotten anyone, and apologies if I have.