Nazca

We arrived in Nazca at 6 am after a overnight bus ride from Arequipa on Monday. Our hotel was great and let us check in, despite being 10 hours earlier than the normal check in time. 
After getting cleaned up and resting a little, we went to the airport to take a flight over the nazca lines. We flew on a little 6 seat, prop plane. The flight took us over 12 different of the famous shapes, like the monkey and spider.  The pilot took really tight banked turns so each side of the plane could see each of the shapes.  The combination of the high wind, hard turns, and a tiny plane made for a wild ride.  I thought I was nervous, but I was actually doing the best of everyone. One woman behind us was puking, the other woman looked like she was about to cry, and Em was fighting not to puke.  It was actually kind of funny. By the 8th or 9th shape, no one even cared. We all just wanted to get off the plane.

The lines were fun to see, but no more spectacular than in pictures or TV. The more interesting attractions near Nazca are the mummies at the Cemetery of Chauchilla and the various pre-incan ruins around town. We spent the next two days visiting many of the places. I found some great mountain trails to run on just 1 km from the hotel and a place to work out so I was happy.  I didn't have high expectations for Nazca, but it turned out to be a nice, small, cheap, charming town.

We are now on the bus to Lima.  Cruz del Sur is great. Wifi, movies, and Super-cama seats. On Friday, I fly to Costa Rica for the last leg of my adventure and Emilie goes home.  I am running the Coastal Challenge stage race.  I am in ok shape considering I have been on vacation for almost 8 weeks.  The race should be fun, albeit really hot and humid. Grad school is starting up again, as is the work for Cedro Peak, so the real vacation is over. I'm glad. I don't know how people do year long trips.