Peru: Nasca

Mountainous region and rocky area of Nasca.

Pool at Hotel Mojoro.

Nasca Lines Airplane.

In the air above the lines and what the desert
region of Nasca looks like.

Nasca is a really rocky, dirt dusty, and sandy region of Peru. With mountainous heights and low rising hill versions of similar mountains. Not as steep as the mountains in the Cusco region and full of vegetation. In particular parts of Nasca there are oasis and vegetation growing in the valley areas where there is a constant supply of water. Since it is winter time in the southern hemisphere there is not as much heat dryness as one would expect. Besides the desertous landscape Nasca is know for a few more things such as the Nasca lines, cock fights, and other things one might expect of a desertous location. The Hotel that I stayed at, Hotel Mojoro is an isolated, but blocked off by their outer boundary wall of their property from the land that they do not own. Within the complex itself there are many things to do. Pool table, swimming pool, soccer, swings, monkey bars, hammocks, a lagoon, restaurant, bar, and lounge chair dispersed among the complex. I almost forgot to mention that they also have a pet Alpaca on grounds as well as peacocks.

The Nasca lines are quite a site to see that figures where drawn back in the ancient times of Peru from the civilization that was there at the time and still sit undisturbed. They are visually seen from the difference of the top soil and below it. The top soil is dark colored rocks and the bottom is lighter soil or in this case sand/ dry dirt. Thus lines and pictographs can be formed, but the real question is is how did they make these pictographs without being able to see from above? Nevertheless it is quite amazing and interesting even though they are lines, but the fact that they are ancient pictographs that with stood time and natural occurrences is beyond anything.

Owl man or astronaut line.

Dog line.

The other thing is the cock fights that i believe happen pretty regularly since it is a form of entertainment in the Nasca region and a way to gamble money to see which cock wins. One might say it is barbarism, but it is their way of life and being able to see it for what it is in the cultural aspect in their region you won't see it that way. The losing chicken does not go to waste either which is not bad because then it will just be food for some family or someone who is eating and the consumer will never know. Just that they are eating their great tasting chicken. In the fight, each cock's spur is either cut off or kept on depending on the blade that is attached. It is a painless/ nerveless part of the cock just peoples bottoms and crown of their heads are to them, but aren't cut off in the similar fashion in cock fights. The owners then attach the sharpened blade to the cock's foot with a small wooden block to ensure the blade does not two things: cut into their own foot and to keep the blade secure in place while being attached to the foot. Then to ensure stability and security of the blade, the owners then tie using string/ small rope the block and blade in place on the foot. Then to give it a protective cover they then tape the rope. To make sure the blade is clean from dirt, dry blood, poison, etc. the owners wipe the blade clean. They hold the cock's while trying to get them riled up to later attack each other. Once they have done that they place them at opposite ends and close the gate doors for them to them start fighting. It is not over till the losing cock's beak touches the ground.