Vacation in Paracas

We've just gotten back from a few days in the sun...and now we're in the familiar cloud cover of Lima.  We drove down to Paracas, about 3 hours south, on Sunday, just to relax, read and catch up with the sun.  The desert was shocking in its starkness - it really made the Sonoran Desert of Arizona look lush and verdant.  There wasn't a thing but sand dunes for most of the drive.  We followed the Pacific Ocean along the coast as we drove, and the waves crashed merrily along the shore.  The sand of the beach never stops - it really looks as if the beach rolls right up the hills and goes on forever! 

We also got to see a few different views of Peru.  We passed shanty towns, with homes that looked as if they wouldn't stand up to the rain if it ever did happen to rain here.  I suppose it's lucky the rains never come. We passed members-only clubs, with pretty gates and long streets that wound into beautiful seaside homes along the shore.  We also passed through one verdant valley, full of corn and other crops that was irrigated by a river that ran through.   We didn't get to the heart of the grape-growing region, but did see grape vines trellised in long rows on the outskirts of the pisco-making area of Peru. 

When we got to the hotel, it was hard to believe that the little oasis inside was actually there.  It was pretty posh and was stuck in the middle of the neverending beach, right along a beautiful bay. Looking around outside, there was nothing to see but dunes upon dunes of sand. Fortunately, we encountered no sandstorms, which occasionally blot out people's vacations altogether.   Our names were checked on a little list by a guard, and we were allowed to pass through a gate that led to another gate.  After another check, we passed through that gate, and were able to drive up to our little getaway.  The hotel itself is new and the rooms are all comfortable suites.  Next time, we'll definitely pack a cooler and bring along some of our own snacks and beverages.

One morning, we took a boat out to see the guano islands, not surprisingly home to loads of birds including different types of cormorants, Humboldt penguins and Peruvian pelicans.  There were sea lions and starfish, too.  It was an amazing trip, and made us want to get ourselves to see the Galapagos one of these days.  

The sea is pretty cold here, so we didn't do more than walk along the edge of the water.  If we'd chosen to swim, we'd have stuck to a safe area, netted off from the plentiful sting rays that enjoy the odd human encounter.  There were kite surfers, and kayaks for rent.  One morning I ran and at the end of the bay, I found what I think were dolphins - loads of them - playing in the water.  Sea birds were diving in for fish, and flashy pink flamingos were standing all along the shore.  Their tails were almost neon.  I took Spencer and his dad back later to check them out.  The dolphins were gone, but we got a good long look at the flamingos.

The view from our hotel was picturesque.  We spent lots of long hours reading and sunning and simply relaxing.  A few mornings it was a bit overcast, but the sun always came out.  Today it was up all day.  The wind tended to pick up in the afternoon, so the mornings were the best time to enjoy the pool area.  I think it was far too cold to swim, but our friends' kids didn;t think so.  Still spoiled by the Arizona heat!  Enjoy the pictures!