Scary Journey to Arequipa ....

.... what originally was planned as a 10 hours drive ended up to be a 12 hour real life adventure...

Linda: "After long 12 hours journey with winding mountain road hugging along the coastal line, we finally got into Arequipa.  Intrepid provided two drivers with mechanical background for the trip.  It was scary at some points with high cliffs...  Glad it was over and we don't have to do it again".

Tina: Well done, group Seto.... I am very proud of you all!

This is a good opportunity to introduce our Tour Company INTREPID which is one of the leading companies when it comes to Adventure Travel and perfect for smaller groups.

Intrepid Travel, founded in Melbourne, Australia is a small group adventure travel company that offers approximately 800 scheduled and customized  itineraries in Asia, Latin America, North America, Europe, The Middle East, Africa, Australasia and Antarctica. 
 


    

Lamas are held as pets sometimes

... view from the mountain road and along the coastal line

The Nazca Lines

Alert: There is a black line going through my last post. I am still trying to figure out what happened...

The Nazca Lines are a series of ancient geoglyphs located in the Nazca Desert in southern Peru.

Contrary to the popular belief that the lines and figures can only be seen with the aid of flight, they are visible from the top of surrounding foothills.
Various interpretations on the lines have challenged scientists, archaeologists and anthropologists.
The general consensus is that the Nazca Lines were created by the Nazca people themselves, without help from alien visitors or aerial views. The figures drawn in the desert correspond with images found in other examples of Nazca art, such as pottery.

On the road to Nazca.....

From Pisco to Nazca ....

... through One Thousand and One nights landscapes...

.... to a perfect place for lunch....

Oasis Huacachina

... and our highlight for for the evening...!

Pacha Manga - Typical Peruvian Highland food

Linda: " We had our Pacha Manga (typical Peruvian Highland food cooked in the earth = earth meal at a local farm.  Soulivanh and  Jeannine were our God father and Godmother.  They blessed the earth and food before they dug out our food (it is cooked under the earth with hot rocks). We had chicken, pork, cheese, vegetable, corn sweet and other potatoes. It was delicious!!"

 

You can see Soulivanh and Jeannine blessing the earth before the food is "harvested"...

... later at the Lama Bar .... Linda and Joe making friends with the owner of the bar  - Ms Lima Lama

Paracas National Reserve

Paracas.....
where the hot desert meets the cold sea ....

Paracas is a desert peninsula located within the Pisco Province in the Inca Region, on the south coast of Peru.  It is here were Peruvian archaeologist, Julio Tello, made an amazing discovery in 1928 – a massive and elaborate graveyard containing tombs filled with the remains of individuals with the largest elongated skulls.The national reserve is a paradise of great natural beauty where different ecosystem can be seen as well as archaeological remains from the Paracas culture and an immense diversity of marine life.

Some Seto members fighting their way through the desert ... where is the rest...?

Islas Ballestas

Paracas is a desert peninsula located within the Pisco Province in the Inca Region, on the south coast of Peru.  It is here were Peruvian archaeologist, Julio Tello, made an amazing discovery in 1928 – a massive and elaborate graveyard containing tombs filled with the remains of individuals with the largest elongated skulls found anywhere in the world. - See more at: http://www.ancient-origins.net/news-evolution-human-origins/initial-dna-analysis-paracas-elongated-skull-released-incredible#sthash.sptni0Ar.dpuf

Paracas is a desert peninsula located within the Pisco Province in the Inca Region, on the south coast of Peru.  It is here were Peruvian archaeologist, Julio Tello, made an amazing discovery in 1928 – a massive and elaborate graveyard containing tombs filled with the remains of individuals with the largest elongated skulls found anywhere in the world. - See more at: http://www.ancient-origins.net/news-evolution-human-origins/initial-dna-analysis-paracas-elongated-skull-released-incredible#sthash.sptni0Ar.dpuf

Paracas is a desert peninsula located within the Pisco Province in the Inca Region, on the south coast of Peru.  It is here were Peruvian archaeologist, Julio Tello, made an amazing discovery in 1928 – a massive and elaborate graveyard containing tombs filled with the remains of individuals with the largest elongated skulls found anywhere in the world. - See more at: http://www.ancient-origins.net/news-evolution-human-origins/initial-dna-analysis-paracas-elongated-skull-released-incredible#sthash.sptni0Ar.dpuf

Parque del Amor....

Love's Park ....

... yes this theme needs a post of its own. It looks like we are having some cute couples to show off...

What do locals say about this Park, which has the nicest views of Lima's beaches and supposedly was inspired by Gaudi's Park Guell in Barcelona?
The Mayor of this district used to hold a competition for the couple who could sustain the longest kiss....
Linda, who was the winner of our group?

Party Seto in love

Kitty and Danny ... well know as South Africa Explorers and members of the Seto Travel Club.... and still in Love...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

no comment.... this pictures says it all... stay tuned for an Introduction of the Yung's in my next post.....

Pachamanac and Miraflores ...

Hello my friends ...

... today we are broadcasting from the splendid Citadel of Pachamanac. 

The Sanctuary of God Pachacamac.

With the arrival of the Incas (around 1450 AD) at the central coastal area of Peru and the occupation of the ceremonial center of Pachacamac a great religious cult had developed. It was so powerful  that the Incas feared to tamper with it and allowed "Pachacamac" to co-exist along their own sun god Inti. The Incas modified the already existing structures, temples and other building to their needs. They built remarkable new pyramids and temples, among them the "Templo del Sol" (the Temple of the Sun) and the Acllahuasi ("House of the chosen woman"), also known as "Mamacona".
 

Pachacamac Ruins

Pachamanac Group Photo

Lunch in Lima: The legendary "Pisco Sour'  along with delicious seafood... are you toasting on me?

...colourful houses in Miraflores, a part of the city of Lima

Buenos Dias en Lima !

 Buenos Dias en Lima ! .... 
....Party Seto has arrived safe and sound....

With our busy program we will update our adventure tonight .... Tour guide Alex is young and handsome as Linda says .... Off to a good start :)

Plaza de Armas in Lima

Plaza Major in Lima

 Below is our first group photo in front of our Hotel in Lima .... 

Cathy, Winnie, Joe, Jeannine, Kitty, Janet, Ted, Danny, David, Soulivanh, Linda, tour guide Alex, Ping, Peter and Ken