We flew in an ancient German Folker to the city of Ica. Condor Air boasts a terminal with a small zoo, complete with an Andean Condor and scruffy looking llamas. We saw a short presentation on the lines and the various theories about their origin. Then we went in three small airplanes, the largest seated twelve, one seated five and one seated three. The seating capacity had a direct relationship to the number of working instruments: 12 seat = 12 instruments, 5 seats = 5 instruments and so forth. Three working instrument seemed to be plenty to get us over the lines in the hands of a good pilot. We flew out to lines and then circled each of the major geoglyphs until the pilots were convinced that we had seen it and then on to the next. There are lines everywhere and 10 major designs that have been the cause of so much speculation.
We landed and then drove into Ica to a beautiful resort hotel where we were served lunch. After lunch we drove to the ICA museum which was small but very complete. Great collection of mummies and textiles. Then by bus out to huge sand dunes on the edge of town that surrounded an oasis (large natural spring). This is the only Oasis in Peru and was a fancy resort town in its day. A bit seedy now, but the sand surfers are in full glory.
Then back to the airport, the Folker and Lima. Again, to late to shop. We have been told that we leave the hotel for the airport at 4 AM for the flight to Cusco! AAACK!
