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Nazca was actually one other spotlight of the South American journey. It was spectacular and nothing wanting the expectations I had constructed up over time, from studying books concerning the mysteries of the world as a toddler to documentaries on Netflix.

It’s wow. However for some the flight will be unhealthy, being a small airplane. However I actually preferred it. Pilots tilt the airplane far sufficient, and infrequently sufficient, that each a part of the airplane can take a look at each vital drawing. There are quite a lot of gigantic drawings. The traces are stated to have been created by the Nazca tradition between 100 BC-700 AD. The specialists used satellite tv for pc pictures, but additionally on-site analysis, strolling these traces. In whole, these traces are 4.4 km lengthy.

These drawings are usually not solely seen from the airplane, but additionally from the encompassing hills.

A number of the drawings characteristic pictures of animals similar to birds, llamas, monkeys, human varieties, fish or jaguars. Some pictures are easy geometric shapes and features, whereas others characteristic extra complicated symbols similar to bushes and flowers. The shapes have been first drawn by eradicating the reddish stone above to show the earth under. Whereas the precise function of the shapes is unknown, most students agree that they carry some spiritual significance.

The Nazca Video:

To start with..

In the summertime of 2019 I went on an intensive tour of western South America. Passing via 5 territories of the continent took me via fascinating locations, distinctive on the planet. I stood by the Hand of the Desert, wanting up on the southern night time sky of the Atacama desert, and drove the biggest dunes on the planet and the paths of desert valleys with such a distinct look that individuals gave them names just like the Valley of the Moon or the Valley of the Planet Mars. I took night time photos close to the Three Sisters within the Valley of the Moon. I gazed westward into the Pacific Ocean, out within the open, alongside the stone statues of the vanished civilization of Easter Island—the japanese tip of Polynesia. I had lunch in the course of the Bolivian salt desert and at night time I photographed my reflection within the water mirror of the flattest and whitest place on Earth. We stayed in a villa made from salt and cactus wooden. We went to the cactus island of the salt desert. I listened to the tales of the astronomers from ALMA – an observatory situated at over 5000m altitude, but additionally to these of the native inhabitants of the floating islands of Lake Titicaca. We drove quick on filth desert roads to see the flamingos at sundown. I went to Macchu Picchu. I went to Cusco. We noticed the oldest pyramids in South America, the over 5000 12 months previous ones from Caral. I went to the witches market in La Paz and noticed the singing fountains in Lima.

It was a monumental journey in only one month, components of which may very well be monumental journeys in themselves. The pretext was the jiffy of photo voltaic eclipse, the third photo voltaic eclipse for me. The remainder of the journeys and the fascinating issues skilled concentrated inside a month make me marvel what I do with my time at residence when week after week, month after month goes by with out discovering something notable. And I miss leaving once more.

The tour was organized by the SARM Romania astroclub, of which I’m a member. The official identify was SARM Romania Expedition – South American Eclipse 2019, extending from June 25 to July 22, 2019.

Given the depth and extension of the journey, we’ve got divided the story into 9 components, offered in chronological order as follows:

• Buenos Aires;
• Chile – Introduction to Chile and The Photo voltaic Eclipse 2019;
• Easter Island;
• Chile – Atacama Desert, Valley of Dying (or Mars) and different wonderful locations;
• Chile – Moon Valley and the Flamingo Birds;
• Bolivia – Salar de Uyuni or the Salt Desert;
• Bolivia – La Paz, Tiwanaku and different wonderful locations;
• Peru – Machu Picchu and Cuzco;
• Peru – Lima, Nazca and the Caral Pyramids.

Nazca

July 18 – Thursday

We left for Nazca at 07:30, and we arrived round 10. It’s endorsed that the flight above the designs be within the morning as a result of after midday turbulences can seem from the coast and so they not take off. The flight over the traces lasted till round 13.00 as we flew in teams of 12 folks.

Nazca was actually one other spotlight of the South American journey. It was spectacular and nothing wanting the expectations I had constructed up over time, from studying books concerning the mysteries of the world as a toddler to documentaries on Netflix.

It’s wow. However for some the flight will be unhealthy, being a small airplane. However I actually preferred it. Pilots tilt the airplane far sufficient, and infrequently sufficient, that each a part of the airplane can take a look at each vital drawing. There are quite a lot of gigantic drawings.

By the way in which, flight scheduling requires everybody’s weight, and it doesn’t damage to have duck baggage useful through the flight.

You can too get a Nazca stamp in your passport, you will get some form of diploma of participation, good touristy shit. From there I received some actually cool fridge magnets. In any other case, the normal leather-based merchandise and different native supplies appear a bit extra faux and costlier than in Bolivia. It’s value taking the crap out of Bolivia should you’re going to purchase souvenirs.

The traces are stated to have been created by the Nazca tradition between 100 BC-700 AD. The specialists used satellite tv for pc pictures, but additionally on-site analysis, strolling these traces. In whole, these traces are 4.4 km lengthy.

These drawings are usually not solely seen from the airplane, but additionally from the encompassing hills.

A number of the drawings characteristic pictures of animals similar to birds, llamas, monkeys, human varieties, fish or jaguars. Some pictures are easy geometric shapes and features, whereas others characteristic extra complicated symbols similar to bushes and flowers. The shapes have been first drawn by eradicating the reddish stone above to show the earth under. Whereas the precise function of the shapes is unknown, most students agree that they carry some spiritual significance.

The primary to analysis them with curiosity have been archaeologists Paul Kosok and Maria Reiche. They claimed that the drawings indicated to folks up to now the place the Solar and the celebrities rose. The traces have been drawn with sticks, then a small layer of soil was eliminated, making the traces 10-15 cm deep.

After Nazca we left for Lima, the place we arrived within the night, a bit drained, round 21-22.00. We stayed at Resort Continental 3, within the historic space of Lima. Lima can be the final vacation spot in a really lengthy and detailed journey.

Okay, really there was yet another journey subsequent to Lima, to the fascinating Caral archaeological web site.

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July 19 – Friday

Caral Piramyds 

Caral is fascinating, unimaginable. The folks of this tradition have been pioneers, invented farming methods and constructed monumental pyramids in South America 1000’s of years earlier than the start of the widespread period.

The location is sort of properly laid out with data boards and a customer centre. The middle has an inside courtyard and inside are uncovered to the general public objects found inside the location and saved right here to be protected. Lots of the stones used within the development of town have been stolen by the locals and used to construct homes and even the large church within the middle.

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July 20 – Saturday

On Saturday we did a day journey to the pyramids at Caral.

And I can say, as a historical past and archeology buff, it’s value a complete day.

They have been solely found within the 70s despite the fact that they have been constructed 5,000 years in the past, a reality established by radiocarbon courting of the natural matter found on the spot, however they might be a lot older.

5,000 years in the past, pyramids in South America, in what’s now Peru. The oldest civilization in South America.

The Norte Chico civilization – nearly as previous because the Egyptian one, emerged within the Supe Valley, 200 km from the current web site of Lima on the Peruvian Pacific coast.

100 or so years in the past, the German archaeologist Max Uhle found the primary vestiges within the space.

For the reason that quite a few items of gold that the adventurers dreamed of weren’t found, the location was deserted for some time. And superb that it was so.

Many years later, extra in depth excavations revealed that what Uhle had found was solely the tip of the iceberg, the achievements of the traditional civilization being quite a few and interesting. The bizarre Norte Chico tradition of Peru is the oldest civilization within the New World (the 2 Americas, North and South) and dates again 5 millennia.

The capital of the traditional state that developed this authentic civilization was the sacred metropolis as we speak known as Caral, a 5,000-year-old metropolis, whose inhabitants had created complicated agricultural practices, an enchanting tradition, a monumental structure. Six pyramidal buildings, temples, amphitheatres stay from this enigmatic Peruvian tradition.

It was solely within the 70s of the final century that it was found that the “hills” and “mounds” within the space are usually not pure formations, as was initially believed, however former buried step pyramids.

Three many years later, within the 12 months 2000, radiocarbon courting of the natural matter discovered on the web site may very well be completed, revealing that the mysterious Norte Chico civilization dates again to 3000 BCE.

Historians would report it as the primary complicated civilization within the Americas.

Caral is without doubt one of the 18 settlements recognized within the Supe valley, masking an space of roughly 65 hectares. The traditional metropolis is situated on an arid terrace overlooking the valley of the river Supe. Some vestiges are extremely properly preserved.

On the middle of the Caral complicated are six massive pyramids organized round a sq.. The biggest of the pyramids, which has a dominant place within the metropolis plan, covers an space equal to the floor of 4 soccer fields and has, as we speak, a peak of just about 20 meters.

From the highest of the Nice Pyramid at Caral, spectacular particularly for the extent of its base, the kings of the mysterious vanished folks may watch over your complete metropolis. A large nine-meter staircase results in a sequence of rooms, which embody an atrium and an altar. Within the altar room, a small gap will be seen, at flooring degree, as soon as used for burning choices. Giant rooms have been constructed for the elites on the degree of the pyramids, whereas on the bottom there have been the dwellings of the craftsmen and people of the commoners (smaller in dimension). Researchers imagine that the mannequin of the traditional metropolis of Caral was additionally utilized by different pre-Columbian civilizations that emerged after the sudden disappearance of the Norte Chico civilization. Curiously, not a single proof of participation in battles or wars has ever been present in Caral. On the web site, the analysis didn’t reveal any defensive buildings, nor weapons or skeletons exhibiting traces of violence. Historians imagine that the individuals who based town of Caral and the Norte Chico tradition developed a peaceable civilization the place folks spent their free time finding out the sky and Nature, practising their faith and taking part in their musical devices. The traditional constructions of Caral are thought-about an important discovery within the New World, after the stays of Machu Pichu.

Caral was mega wow.

Lima

Returning again to Lima by coach, I had time to watch the environment of the capital metropolis. They spotlight the good distinction between social courses. On the hills close to Lima have been constructed a form of shed-like homes, following the identical sample. I perceive that they’re for much less rich individuals who also can profit from free land. However on the entrance to Lima there’s a form of doc management. It’s nearly like a citadel metropolis, that’s how massive the wealth hole is in an in any other case poor nation, which is richer than Bolivia anyway.

What to do in Lima. The historic middle of town, Lima, is value visiting, with a few of the most well-known locations within the capital. Alternatively, you possibly can take the Miraflores tour, which departs from the Vacationer Data Heart at 3:00 p.m.

Within the night we visited the fountains with lights, gentle present. It’s a superb place for inventive photos.

Parque de la Reserva is an attractive park and a fantastic place to go to through the day, however at night time this park turns into actually magical. After night time falls, its well-known fountains gentle up. The doorway price is 4 soles.

Throughout the day I visited some cathedrals, the squares in entrance of which have been stuffed with pigeons doing a present of their very own.

Barranco has historic structure. At night time, Barranco turns into a celebration zone with glorious eating places and various bars for Peruvians and foreigners. Probably the most attention-grabbing locations to go to is Puente de los Suspiros.

This bridge is in the principle a part of the neighborhood the place two essential streets join.

Being already bored with a lot data from over the month, I solely visited the Cathedral of Lima and a free stroll across the metropolis.

The flight to Amsterdam can be at 20:00. After which residence.

Okay, I arrived residence in Bucharest solely at 00:35, Monday, July 22. Due to the switch and the time distinction.

That was concerning the mega journey of about 6,000 euros for a month in South America, the journey the place I visited Buenos Aires in Argentina, Chile, I noticed the photo voltaic eclipse in Chile, I went to the desert, I took night time images, I noticed petroglyphs within the desert but additionally Easter Island within the Pacific 3000 km from the coast, I used to be within the salt desert of Bolivia with its cacti island, I noticed Machu Pichu, Nasca and the previous pyramids of Caral. Actually fascinated.

Movies from Lima: