Window into Cajamarca

Trip Start Jan 08, 2007
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Trip End Oct 01, 2007


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Flag of Peru  ,
Friday, March 16, 2007

Cajamarca located in the northern sierra (highlands) of Peru is steeped in history and despite being off the gringo trail it receives its fair share of Peruvian visitors and offers many interesting tours. Being one of the only gringos in Cajamarca was a pleasant experience as the locals are friendly and hospitable and in honesty I don´t think I´ve felt safer in any of the other South American cities as I do here. Even at night there just isn´t the same number of undesirables lurking in the darkness, more simply townsfolk strolling about discussing life.
The primary aim of my first tour was to see the Pre Incan Necrópolis in Otuzco, however getting there involved some slight detours beginning with a stop at Fundo Los Alpes a small traditional Swiss cheese factory. The production process was carefully outlined by our guide Oscar (in Spanish so I only grasped the general jist) and then followed my fav part, the tasting session 01 Pressing Business
01 Pressing Business
 ! Today being the first time in months I had eaten what in my eyes is proper cheese, as most cheese out here is very fresh so comes wet and has very little taste unlike our years old cheddar (mmm... Devonshire cheddar) I splashed out and bought some to take with me containing oregano.
The next diversion took us to a Jardin Botanico De Las Haciendias and its small jungle of Haciendias turned out to be far more impressive than Loja´s failed attempt.
Now onwards and upwards to the main event; the Ventanillas De Otuzco. These so named windows are the remains of a Pre-Incan cemetery carved into a rock face. In their prime the holes would have stretched much deeper into the cliff but today erosion has taken its toll. One of the better preserved tombs is actually a multiple grave with chambers leading off the main tunnel.
The final step took us to Puente Colgante a small iron bridge situated closeby where you can get an obscured view of the whole site.
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