If it's an UFO landing site or a giant astronomical calender, 80 years after the discovery of the Nasca lines, people still don't know. However the most widely accepted explanation suggests that the lines functioned as ritual pathways to the Nasca civilisation as they prayed for rain in the desert. The site  is just 3 hours away from Huacachina oasis. So with all these conspiracy theories in mind, we decided to check out the mystery for ourselves. A taxi brought us to the small airfield, where we borded a Cessna for our scenic flight over the plateau. The pilot would first bend very sharply to the right and spiral down over a figure, before doing exactly the same for the passengers on the left window. Imagine this procedure for 20 Nasca figures... it is a neverending rollercoaster! But very worth it. Don't eat or drink anything before.

During Easter 2009 I flew over to visit Florian once more. It's been a long three months for both of us. 
Glad to be together again we spent our holidays in the tiny but beautiful Huacachina oasis, 400km south of Lima. It had already turned into pitch-dark night when we arrived. So looking out our hotel window the next morning we were overwhelmed to see huge sanddunes all around us! The first day Florian gave me a nice paddle tour around the lagoon and we just enjoyed the tranquil oasis lifestyle. Then, on day two, we had a shot at Haucachina's prime activity: Sandboarding! We dashed down four different dunes, each one even higher... quite a cool and thrilling experience! Last but not least: Florian's infamous desert freestyle jump!

The Paracas Islands, about 1 hour from Huacachina, are home to enourmous populations of birds and sea lions. A result of the cold nutrient-rich Humboldt Current. The islands played a vital role in the Guano War in the 19th century. But since the invention of industrial fertiliser, Peru's economy no longer depends on bird droppings and the Paracas Islands were turned into a tourist attraction. Beware of unwanted surprises from above...