Miraflores, Paracas, Huacachina

It´s Sunday I believe, and I am now in Huacachina, after taking the bus from Lima to the city of Ica.  I tried to upload a bunch of photos, but then of course the power went out and the photos were deleted from the computer.  Boooo.  I would love to tell you all about these photos that are here, but it will have to wait, as I am going out for a bit with a group of people who I met on the bus and dune buggying and sandboarding.  Be patient.  And feel free to comment please! 


Bogota, Columbia



Troll in Bogota, preparing for takeoff!

Miraflores

Miraflores, Parque del amor

Miraflores:  with a bit of a cold, I did explore a bit of Lima´s most upscale neighborhood.  The parks and walkways along the coast are beautiful, and I was able to see a ton of surfers-  really long breaks which look amazing.  There were both a Sala del artes graficos and Peruflora festivañ happening in the center of Miraflores.  I took some photos of the artwork which lined a park.  The theme of the show was about caring for our water, so there were some very interesting illustrations from artists all over the world.  Peruflora was in JFK park in the center of town, and there were many different viveros, or nurseries, showcasing their flowers, along with live dance performances.    I declined to go out on the town in Lima due to my cold, but my friends from the Hostel went out and seemed to enjoy the nightlife.  I will probably meet up with Lucinda from England again, as she was waiting in Lima for a friend to arrive, and then would continue on the same route I am taking. 

I want to go surfing! (But this isnt me)



Peruflora festival dancers





Flower Petal Mosaic, Peruflora festival in JFK park, Miraflores



Paraglider, Miraflores



Exhibit in Sala del artes graficos

Skater boy, Miraflores

Sunset, Miraflores

Troll, Miraflores



View from Cruz del Sur bus leaving Lima



I am thoroughly impressed with the organization of the bus system in Peru.  While in Lima, intercity transit seemed somewhat unmanageable, the different companies which go between cities are very impressive.  I took Cruz del Sur from Lima to Ica.  There was a movie, a meal, and pillows and blankets were provided. I was in seat number one, so I had a panoramic view (it was a double decker bus). 



leaving Lima

After a morning trip to Paracas, I met Freddy, who was working for some company in Ica giving some sort of tourist information.  While he did not sell me on any kind of tour, he had lunch with me overlooking the Laguna of Huacachina, and I was able to obtain some information about local life in Ica and practice my Spanish.  He also got along well with Troll (Who wouldn´t really?)



 

Oasis Laguna of Huacachina

During our lunch I asked Freddy about the myth of the Laguna of Huacachina, which I knew little about.  He told me that there were some beautiful women that lived there and because there were no men the women cried so much that the laguna filled with their tears.  Doing a little more research, it turns out the legend is that the lagoon was created when a beautiful native princess was apprehended at her bath by a young hunter. She ran, leaving the pool of water she had been bathing in to become the lagoon. The folds of her mantle, streaming behind her as she ran, became the surrounding sand dunes.The woman herself is rumored to still live in the oasis as a mermaid.

Beach, Paracas



Troll, Paracas

    After staying at the Casa del Arena 2 in Huacachina outside of Ica for one night and falling asleep to the sweet lullaby of pounding reggaeton, I moved to Hostal Salvatierra for my second night in Huacachina.  I went with a tour through the hostel to Paracas to visit the Islas Ballestas (Ballestas Islands), also called the poor man´s Galapagos.  This will be another post, once I upload the photos from my Nikon.  Above is Troll after our tour.  He really liked the Peruvian Pelicans.

 Huacachina desert ride through the dunes!

Dune buggy and sandboarding in Huacachina!