The Ica stones are a collection of stones allegedly discovered in a cave near Ica, Peru. These stones of various sizes have been etched with astounding scenes. The stones depict open-heart surgery, brain transplants, cesarean sections, telescopes, ancient maps, flying machines, extinct animals and men with dinosaurs. Some claim the Ica Stones are an ancient library left by a lost culture. Others say they are a hoax. These andesite stones call...more
Your Ica Peru vacation is located about 300 kilometers from Lima. Ica city was founded in 1563 by Luis Jerónimo de Cabrera and the area was host to several ancient cultures, including Paracas, Wari, Nasca and Ica, dating back some 10,000 years.Spanish occupation left behind beautiful colonial architecture, with the Cathedral of Ica being the most impressive. Ica is where the famous pisco brandy was spawned, being made from white-grapes and is...more
Chan Chan city is located near Trujillo on the north coast of Peru. It was the capital of the Chimú kingdom from AD 850 until 1470 when the Incas, lead by Tupac Inca Yupanqui, conquered them. According to legend, Tacaynamo (also called Chimu Capac) was the founder of Chan Chan who came from the sea by canoe. Chan Chan is the largest adobe city in the world, covering about 12 square miles, and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Chan Chan city was the Chimú's religious, administrative and craft production capital. The main area of Chan Chan includes compounds and palaces constructed for Chimú kings. Some of the walls reach 50 to 60 feet high enclosing each of the 11 citadels. The adobe walls of Chan Chan are decorated with carvings of several forms of sea life, humans, animals, geometric shapes and designs. The Chimú's of Chan Chan were highly influenced by the nearby ocean, as most of the carvings depict. The Tschudi Palace is the principle area of Chan Chan city. Other remains of the city, like the pyramidal temples, are located several miles away. The Tschudi Palace is a large complex which was home to about 500 to 1,000 noblemen. The "Recento Funerario" is where the tomb of the...more
The Nazca Lines Mystery involves the most outstanding group of geoglyphs in the world that show huge outlines of over 70 animals, insects and human creatures, with hundreds of lines and geometric patterns etched into the surface of the desert. Located between the towns of Nazca and Palpa, the Nazca Lines cover a plateau across 53 miles. Some of the...more
An ancient structure called Kuelap may have inspired the beginning of the movie "Raiders of the Lost Ark." The novel tells us that Indiana Jones was looking for the Temple of the Chachapoyan Warriors in the Andes of Northern Peru. The Chachapoyans, which means "People of the Clouds," did exist and have left behind scores of ruins; most notably...more
In 1911 Hiram Bingham of Yale University rediscovered ancient Machu Picchu buried under four centuries of lush vegetation. Machu Picchu is located at almost 8,000 feet high in the Andes mountains outside of Cuzco, Peru and just above the town Aguas Calientes. Machu Picchu is full of mystery as no one knows exactly how it was built or why. Scholars claim that Machu Picchu was built around the year 1450 AD. The style of building found at Machu Picchu in Peru hints at it being constructed in the "late Imperial Inca" period, during the reign of Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui (or Pachacutec). According to some theories, Machu Picchu existed as an administrative center of control for conquered regions and as a military stronghold. Some believe that ancient Machu Picchu was a ceremonial center, in the heart of high spiritual and earthly energy. The exact purpose of ancient Machu Picchu is open to debate. Machu Picchu is an architectural marvel. There is no better example of successful ancient civil engineering than Machu Picchu. The huge stones that make up the site are perfectly cut and fit together remarkably well. This superb engineering is defiantly resistant to earthquakes. The builders of...more
Exploring Choquequirao takes about a two day's hike from the town of Cachora outside of Cuzco city. Choquequirao, or "cradle of gold" in the Inca language Quechua, is located almost 1750 meters above the raging Apurimac River. Much bigger than Machu...more
Baksheesh is the local term in Egypt for "Tipping" or "service"Tipping in Egypt may drain your pockets if you don't know how. As a foreigner to this enchanting land with seemingly endless instances wherein you are in need and was properly addressed,...more
It has been a well known fact that when you visit any place else in the world, may it be at your own locality, shopping is never out of the to-do list. You shop and it is out of the question why you do so. So, think about it, if you shop in your own...more
Life in the modern and urban areas is becoming busier day after day. We find it hard to give ourselves a break together with our love ones. So for once in a blue moon, during holidays, an all inclusive family treat is big bang to escape the busy...more
Way back in the 70's, holiday package normally cover meals and drinks. These holidays are all inclusive. On the early 80's, I spent my life working in Spain for a couple of years. When I returned to United Kingdom, I arrange my own travel, hotel...more
Egypt is a land rich in history and culture, with a vast area of geographical attractions that makes the country more intriguing to tourists all over the world. These attraction where known since the ancient times, since the time when slavery was...more