Roberto Penny Cabrera | Nestor | Gail Harington | collector | More Spa

The handover takes place at Ica’s best restaurant, El Otro Peñoncito, where Nestor spreads out the polished sharks’ teeth on the dark green tablecloth for my approval. Everyone is amazed — diners, waiters, and sidewalk passersby who hear the fuss. Later, Roberto and Nestor see me off at the bus station and wave until I am out of sight. That’s when I unroll the cotton­-wrapped teeth. Suddenly, I understand why Roberto calls himself a finder, not a collector. It’s not about hoarding and storing, it’s about rescuing a piece of the past … before it’s too late.



Author
Gail Harington is a freelance writer in New York who collects seashells, shoes — and now, shark teeth. She has written for Cooking Light, Departures, More, Spa, and Travel + Leisure.

Tours

For tours in the Ocucaje Desert, call Roberto Penny Cabrera at 011-51-56-962-4868 or e-mail him at icadeserttrip@yahoo.es. Per-person rates start at $100 per day. Round-trip service between Lima and Ica costs $30 on the Ormeno bus line and takes about four hours each way.