Chapter V
My Trip to Nazca PlainsI didn't have to show up at the office until 10 o'clock
that morning, so I managed to get a few hours sleep.
Since I felt rested, I made up my mind to see those
landing strips and ground drawings I'd just read about.
As long as I was already in Peru, I decided th e time to do
it was now.
I had a quick breakfast and headed directly to the
office. Very little was happening. Everyone had Monday
morning faces, even though it was Tuesday.
Nancy was very apologetic about breaking our date
the Thursday before; I told her cheerfully to forget it and
assured her that I'd had a great time on the trip.
I worked until about noon, then left and went to a
travel agency located in our building. I wa nted to find the
best and fastest way to the Nazca Plains. The agent told
me I would have to drive to the city of Pisco, where I
would find an airport with small aircraft for hire. He
recommended flying as the best way to get a good look at
the ancient relics. I also learned I could drive to the
Ingenio Valley by way of the Panamerican Highway,
which is the only coastal road running through the
Nazca Plains drawings.
That evening after work I drove to the city of lea,
about 180 miles south of Lima. Since the speed limits
weren't enforced, it took me only three hours to get
there.
lea was a very charming place. Even though located in
a hot dry desert, the town offered great weather, a lot of
greenery, and the magnificent Hotel de Turistas, which
is comparable to the finest hotels in the United States.
Again I discovered it is "a small world," when I ran into
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