We finished out our visit to Huacachina by sitting around the pool and relaxing for the day. Ha ha.
Actually we climbed more sand dunes.
Now that we’ve gotten to know the place a little better, we realize that it’s quite a treat. We are in the middle of an enormous range of sand dunes (assuming multiple sand dunes make a “range” of dunes), with a small natural oasis in the middle.
At least it was natural until the people here realized that there were business opportunities awaiting and
built hotels and restaurants on the oasis, which started to drain the aquifers that keep the oasis full. Now they pump supplemental water in to keep it looking lush and natural.
And then, off to Arequipa, our first town at elevation. On the way we stopped to see some of the hundreds of Nazca Lines. These are huge figures etched into the ground that represent animals, people and plants. What is known about them is that they are roughly 2,000 years old. What is not known is exactly who created them and why. This one is supposedly a tree. These lines are about a foot wide and only a few inches deep, but it literally never, ever rains here, and the wind blows the loose sand out of the depressions, so they are still here albeit damaged slightly by roads that were built before anyone realized these things existed (you can only see them from above).
We arrived here via a 10-hour overnight bus ride, which affected my brain way more than the altitude. But 5 or 6 cups of coffee have fooled my brain into thinking that I’m feeling much better now.
Oh, if you happen to run into Patitas the lost tortoise, please let me know. His owners are worried sick.
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