Penguins, Fatso´s and The Nazca Lines

...Pisco, the Spanish for dump. A sordid little town ran by the many feral dogs that inhabit it´s corners. They run in packs, go wild when in heat and threaten anyone who walks near. Their shagginess is only matched by the towns dirt. It smells and should never be visited except for......PERU´S FATTEST MAN and the ever straight laced HUMBOLDT PENGUINS. ,..... on with the tale........ the guide herded us into two tired columns. Hundreds of gringos stood hunched over with cold. After 30 minutes we were allowed on the good boat `Rocket Ship` and sped off to the Ballestos Islands. These islnds are covered in Guana. Thats a nice term for bird shit. And man do the smell. There is so much shit the entire surface of the island is white. The boat float up to the side of the islands. And make no mistake even if they smell like shit they are beautiful. Giant pink, purple rocks jutting out of the sea with natural arches and caves. The noble waddling Humboldt penguins live here are provided a show. Well they just stood there. Then there was the Peruvian Boobie and star fish, sea urchins and sea lions. All very fishy so far. Until we hit the main land again and a shadow cast down on the beach. From the shadow a loud bellow of directions came. Peru´s fattest man sat straining the towns flood defences. He was huge...... ....the sand shone in reds, purples and pinks. Giant sand dunes about 40 metres in height swept all around. Waves crashed against brittle cliffs, creating the Cathedral. Giant stacks out in the sea that once were linked to shore. Further up the coast sand turned red. And a crimson beach stretched for 5 km in an arch........ ....half the fun of doing the Nazca lines is the flight. A tiny 4 man plane that a draft could make wobble going up into the sky and doing loop the loops around gigantic lines in the sand. The plane I was on was equipped with sick bags that held half a litre of liquid. I settled in my seat and we took off. I couldn´t help noticing a strong draught coming in the door. But ignored it. Then the awe struck. These truly are amazing images. I won´t even try to explain them. Just come here and do it yourselves.... CHECK OUT THE BALLYMUN APPRECIATION SOCIETY ON FACEBOOK