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Other entries in Pisco

Luxury Bus to the Home of Pisco Sours

I ventured out on my own today by taking the bus south to Pisco.  The buses here are not your ordinary buses.  They are double decker buses with the first floor being seats that can make into beds with the top floor just regular reclining seats.  The buses play movies and have uniformed stewardesses who bring around a meal and drink - all included in the price of a ticket.  If you have the time, are on a limited budget and want to see some country, this is the way to travel.  My ticket to Pisco was 40 soles (approx. $11 vs. $80 for a plane ride) and took about 3.5 hours. 

If you have made hotel reservations, the hotels will usually pick you up at the bus station, so even arriving after dark can be safe in a normally seemy environment.  I did have a reservation for $20 a night at a 3 star beach hotel, so as arranged, Agusto was waiting for me when I arrived.  I was glad to see him, 'cuz hotel vendors bombard you when you get off the bus.  He wisked me off to the hotel which provided a very nice room - one of the best I have had.  It was very roomy with tile floors and a modern bath complete with a heating lamp and hot water.  Also included was a complete breakfast!

South of Lima it is very arrid with the Pisco/Paracus area being one of the driest areas in the world.  They only get 2 mm (yes, millimeters) of rain a year.  I have never seen anything so desolate in my life!  You have the Pacific Ocean to the west and these desolate sand fields and barren foot hills to the Andes to the east.  When you think that there is no life out here, an oasis appears complete with palm trees bearing vineyards and fruit trees!  I still don't know where the water comes from to turn the sand green!  Any way, here is where the grapes are grown for the famous Pisco wine/liquer that is used in Pisco sours.  These are pretty potent and it is my understanding can knock you off your feet with no warning! 

The town of Pisco is very small and is basically there for beach tourists and Pisco wine.  It also provides hotels for people going to Paracus to see the Islas Ballestra and Paracus National Reserve.  That is exactly why I arrived in Pisco!

Even though it is so arrid and very warm mid-day, the evenings and mornings are very cool.  I was not expecting that and did not bring anything warm.  It was supposed to be a warm beach environment!  So, I didn't know what I would be wearing on the boat ride the next day to the Islas Ballestra.

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