We reached Lima with a long flight via Madrid. Lima is a city gripped by the chaotic traffic, smog and fog. Our trip will take place with an SUV. We head south along the famous Pan-American Highway. First stop in Pisco, the village  known for Peru's most famous cocktail: the 'pisco sour'. This cocktail served us everywhere during our trip. From here you take the boat to visit the Ballestas Islands. This stretch of coast is rich in fish for which the islands are inhabited by many sea lions, pelicans, penguins and birds of all kinds. Back on the coast along a stretch of coastal desert climbing over the dunes with the SUV. Near Paracas was possible to see the 'cathedral', a rock arch over the sea like one of a cathedral. Unfortunately it was severely damaged by the earthquake of 2007. Even more to the south across the desert are the Nazca lines. To see them you need to get on a small aircraft. From the aircraft figures appear in all their beauty: hummingbird, condor, monkey, whale, dog ... To facilitate viewing the aircraft takes continuous turns and this can cause stomach problems ... When got off the plane we have many stomach problems but we think that it is still worth it. Now we begin the ascent to the Andes and we leave the coast. We arrived in Arequipa placed at 2000 meters above sea level. It is called the white city because of the color of its buildings. Arequipa is surrounded by numerous high volcanoes over 6000 meters . The journey continues on to Lake Titicaca from Arequipa at 2000 meters in a few hours we went at 5000 meters. Here we meet the real Peru. The sky is deep blue the clear air the semi-desert landscape and everywhere Andean camelids: Llama, Alpaca, Vicuna and Guanaco. The faces are reddened by wind, the sun at this altitude burns and disfigures the faces. At this altitude walking a few steps lead out of breath, and walking becomes difficult ... In hotels you can freely drink 'mate de coca', a sort of tea made with coca leaves, which should alleviate the problems caused by altitude. Lake Titicaca place at 4000 meters is the highest navigable lake in the world. The journey continues on to Cusco, the navel of the world. Everything here speaks of the Incas, every stone speaks of them and how the colonists have destroyed this once glorious people. By now the body has become accustomed to the altitude to which the visit to the city and the archaeological sites that surround it is now easier. Around Cusco there are the salt of Maras and the market of Pisac. Now we enter the sacred valley by train to Aguas Calientes. From here a few kilometers separate us from the place symbol of Peru: Machu Picchu. The climate is tropical. During the night it rained and in the morning Machu Picchu was shrouded in the clouds that only on rare occasions have been opened and this has allowed me some unusual photographs. We return from Cusco to Lima by plane. The airport of Cusco is sorrounded by the Andes and the aircraft take off and immediately overfly the Andean peaks that appear very close to the windows of the aircraft.

                                                 Stefano Gazzoli