Cajamarca

About an hour north of Lima by plane, just inland of Trujillo is a beautiful little spot called Cajamarca. I love the place and I can only describe why by saying it has aura. It has awful poverty and ugly buildings. But, and it's a big but, it has some magic architecture, beautiful people, great cheese and sooo much character.

There are about 100 000 people who live in this gold rich area. It has an interesting history dating back over 3000 years, and is where Atahualpa, the last Inca king, was killed by the Spanish conquistadors. Unlike Chile, when walking in the street, you are still very aware that there was an ancient civilization that roamed the area, and I guess that is one aspect that makes it special.

Just before Atahualpa was killed he filled a 'randsome room' with gold and silver as payment for his life, guess that didn't work... the room is 88 cubic metres.... hmmmm that is about 30 billion dollars in today's money. The Spanish must have really not liked him...

View up the stairs to Santa Apolonia, a church and lookout spot just above the town





















Church in town, recently renovated and painted
















Typical street in town
















A lot of the buildings are adobe with beautiful balcony windows and elaborate doors and entrances
















Courtyard of our hacienda style hotel







Cajamarca from Santa Apolonia

Wishing you a week where there is some beautiful aura to appreciate.