A few days after I returned from my adventure to Trujillo, Jeanette and I traveled south to the costal resort town of Pisco. This port city is named after the potent Peruvian liquor produced in Ica then exported out of Pisco. In 2007 Pisco suffered a devastating earthquake that left the city crippled and unable to support the thriving tourist industry it had previously enjoyed. Walking through the city, one notices that altough severely damaged, Pisco is still a thriving city; enjoying the town square during a fresh summer evening, one can almost feel the living pulse of the people rebuilding their beloved home. Tourists are now coming back to Pisco on their way to enjoy another resort town, Paracas, and the natural wonders of Las Islas Ballestas.
If you are not afraid of Peruvian buses, traveling within Peru is very easy. Pisco is about a 3 hour drive from Lima. One can simply take pick up a bus from a stop along that Panamericana and for 15 soles can be in Pisco in 3 hours. Jeanette and I took a Perubus from our bus stop on the Pan Americana. As we were walking along to highway with our backpacks, looking like obvious tourists, a truck with a loud speaker, shouting out advertisements, warmly blared at us: "Welcome gringos to our beautiful country. Thank you for coming to Peru!" The bus was hot and, of course packed with people. I wedged myself into a seat next to a father and sleeping baby. I had put my bag above my head in the rack, but when the attendant came by and warned me to watch my bag. I immediately took it down and put it on my lap. Traveling in the "commoners" bus (i.e. the economical busses), is always far more fulfilling experience. Being able to rub shoulders with the common Peruvian, being able to start conversations with little old ladies, who are interested in where you are from, your story, and being able to then talk to them about their lives is always fulfilling to me. This type of experience reminds me of the commonality that is present in the diversity of peoples.
We found our way to Pisco and settled into our hostel. We had the evening to relax, so we naturally made our way to the plaze de armas (main plaza) of Pisco. On our way there we passed streets of houses that where literally being built from the rubble of the earthquake. We went to eat at a nice restaurant off the plaza, where we had delicious, fresh seafood. When we were finished eating, we relaxed in the plaza, doing as the locals, chatting, eating ice cream cones, and people watching. The plaza is like the towns living room. Carefree children roam and play freely, while elderly men and gossipy women chat on the benches. And amongst all this are the gringo and gringa who constantly catch the furtive glances and blatant stares of the locals.
Las Islas Ballestas the next day were quite impressive. This visit was probably the first real touristy thing I did since I arrived in Peru. We arrived at the dock with a bunch of other tourists from all over the world and boarded tour boat to see the islands. We were able to see seal lions, the Peruvian penguin, pelicans (which are the most unattractive birds). The islands are also notorious for their stench. The amount of birds that live on the islands produce quite a bit of guano which is then collected and used as fertilizer.
After Pisco and Paracas, we went to Ica. Everyone at La Ciudad said it was hot in Ica, and they were right. It was hot! We went to a Bodega to learn about the process used to distill pisco. It was interesting the and the samples were a enough to "put you in."
I will post pictures soon.
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