Strange Days
Trip Start
Jan 08, 2007
1
51
139
Trip End
Oct 01, 2007
Cajamarca,
Peru
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Anyhow they work in a hillbilly town locked in on all sides by a forest of pine trees which they use for furniture production and sell to the outside world along with loomed crafts and dairy products.
One of the most impressive moments was their herd of Vicuņas running wild, these area kind of mini llama type animal. The males are extremely territorial and spend most of their time chasing each other and making a lot of noise.
To give the day an even weirder twist required a walk around the minizoologico
01 You See That
. Other than caged Andean Condors, Hawks, big cats and birds they had a selection of monkeys. The surprise came when walking past the Wooly cage where I spotted Tasha (the Spider monkey from SM who took a liking to me). You may well think yeah alright Steveo! but I know she was shipped out with both the Woolies the week after I left SM as returned there the day before leaving Quito to say goodbye and give my condolences to Leon as the big Mumma Lion with one eye dragged his dog into her cage. She came straight up to me and cooed while I rubbed her back just like in the centre, which worried my Peruvian mates slightly who thought she was dangerous. After searching the cage and checking the Wooly monkeys I found one which I am quite sure was Mrs Wooly in amongst the other very different looking monkeys when she came to say hello as well. I continued on around the rest of the park before our route took us back past the Wooly cage not entirely convinced in myself but then to hammer the point home there he was the infamous Mr Wooly. Iīll never forget the monkey that bit me! All that in the past he grabbed my hands and moved them to the part of his back that required scratching same as always. I am pleased to say all 3 monkeys have a much bigger cage and more company so should be a world happier, however obviously all missing the special SM attention they had grown accustomed to. Mr Wooly didnīt want t let me go and hung on desperately when I tried to leave and Tasha assumed her curled up position atop a log
02 You Don´t Fool Me Lucifer
. So a strange little place and even odder reunion, still I was happy to get out of there as not so keen on the vibe of those places.
Super Cuy (coo-ee) for lunch! Finally got the balls to try Guineapig. It wasnīt all that bad at all even for a dish reminiscent of road kill but sparsely meaty and a bit slimy so personally I feel not worth the effort.
In the belief that I was starting to smell lie a hippy I wanted to investigate Los Baņos del Inca, the incand thermal springs named so as when the Spanish came to invade they found Atalhualpa (Northern Incan ruler of the time) camped nearby. Today they have loads of private baths for public use and being able to have an unlimited supply of hot water meant I could indulge in having a bath up to my neck without it running out on me halfway.
The first bath in months left me revitalized and ready to take on the Cajamarcan nightlife in the form of Del Diablo Discotecha I was being shown by my 3 Peruvian touring buddies on hols from lima.
I HAVE NOW FOUND OUT THEY WERE NOT THE SAME MONKEYS SO MAYBE MONKEYS DO ALL LOOK THE SAME!
