Day 22, Part II: Paracas

Before coming on this trip, I had no idea that Peru was such a beautiful country with so many sites to see. Also, I knew that Lima itself is a very gray place, especially in the winter (which is now, because North and South America have opposite seasons). Lima is covered, almost constantly, in a deep gray cloud cover that takes lot of getting used to. Believe me, it is intense. You will never understand the pressing cloud cover until you actually visit Lima. Some people get depressed, playing it off as SAD (seasonal affective disorder). Everything looks different in this city when you get the occasional burst of sunshine, and it is definitely a welcome site.

While here, I have used my weekends as prime opportunities to see other parts of Peru, just to see what is out there. Last weekend, I went to Huacachina, which I have already written about. Yesterday, I took a day trip to Paracas. Paracas is a coastal town, right on the Pacific Ocean, about 4 hours south of Lima. The best part about these destinations is the sunshine! They are also beautiful, of course. I have always been a travel buff, so these trips are extremely exciting for me. While in Paracas, I took a boat ride to the Ballestas Islands, a natural habitat for a plethora of animals, including birds, sea lions, and Humboldt penguins (yes, penguins!). This was the highlight of my day, as I love to take photos of wildlife. The boat ride was loads of fun as we hit high speeds and big waves. It was certainly a thrill ride! On the islands, we were able to get very close to the cliffs, face to face to the animals. It was like a dream come true for me. Watching animals in their natural habitats is exhilarating, as you can watch their true daily activities - the way they should be living.

After the boat ride, I took a tour of the Paracas National Reservation. Here, the coastal desert and sand dunes give way to the sprawling blue of the Pacific Ocean. I have never seen something like this before: dry desert meets large body of water. This was truly something that I didn’t think existed, and if I didn’t see it with my own eyes, I am not sure I would have believed it.

Here are some photos from my day trip yesterday: