Cajamarca 8/6/07 - 8/14/06

Cajamarca is best known as the city where the Incan Emperor Atahuallpa was imprisoned, held for ransom, and then killed by Spanish Conquistadors led by Pizarro back in 1532, drawing an end to the all powerful Incan Empire. The small Spanish troop of 170 "conquistadors" outsmarted and defeated an army of 80,000 (by promising a peace ceremony in order to lure Atahuallpa and then using guns and horses against people who have never seen either-- the Incas had no chance.)

Atahuallpa was held for ransom . . . which he delivered in the hopes of saving his life-- a room full of gold and twice of silver, as tall as the level of his out raised arm. This room is the only remaining Incan structure remaining in Cajamarca and is known as El Cuarto del Rescate, or "The Ransom Room." No you can´t go inside, no you can´t touch the wall, but you can stand outside and admire! Finally, of course, the Spanish killed Atahuallpa anyway. They spared him the death of burning at the stake to a more deserving one of strangulation with a garrote, once he miraculously decided to be baptized as a Christian! (Actually, the Incas believed that the soul could not have an afterlife if the body was burned. So there you have it.)

The city of Cajamarca is like any other large city . . . it has its bars, restaurants, churches (not in that order) and it has its markets.
Upon arriving, we ran into our friends from Celendín hot baths . . . Hector and Denis (they happened to be wearing clothes this time) and they helped us find a cheap hostel in the area . . . sure there was no hot water available for most of the day AND the mattress felt like a box-spring! But it was cheap . . . and just what we were looking for.

Mishka had to travel to Lima to pick up Matty, an incoming visitor from the good ol´U. S. of A. And of course we made a sign to welcome him

Which he loved! And promises to frame when he got home.
I decided to stick around and relax a bit, go the the hot baths and maybe dancing.The famous Baños del Incas where sort of disappointing . . . especially after being spoiled by the wonderful and natural springs in Celendín. For example . . .

Baños del Incas

(don´t touch the water, don´t cross the walkway, don´t try anything other than taking a pic!)

Older Baños (same rules apply)

And finally, my Baño where I was allowed to take a bath . . . Looks like a little tile closet don´t it? At least the water was medicinal . . . otherwise, it would have been like taking a bath at home!

Next day I went out dancing to a local bar before heading out to a festival in a nearby town. Needless to say, we never made it to the festival . . .Why fix it if it ain´t broken??Thank you Remac Crew, especially Denis and Hector!

Mishka returned with Matty from Lima and we hit the streets of Cajamarca. . . Ransom Chamber, Historical District, and other local delights. My favorite? Locking Misha up in a display case! Talk about fun!
Before heading for the coast, we decided to check out the Ventana´s of Otuzco (burial grounds in the mountains). Armed with sandwiches and strawberries, we had a picnic while reading "The Alchemist" aloud and pondering the afterlife.
Word to the wise: Peruvians love to plant cacti around their territories...so if you decide to climb over, be very careful! The cactus poison can hurt for days, in you joints! Very painful! Wink wink

Adios for now!

From Mishka and his two girlfriends:) Aren´t we pretty?