I departed Piura early on my way to Cajamarca. After traveling only two miles the Peruvian police saw me approaching and, sure enough, they pulled me over. I thought to myself, here we go again. I pulled over and as the officer approached, and before he could say anything I stuck out my hand to shake his hand and said, “Buenos Dias. Como amanecistes?” (Good morning. How are you this morning?) He looked at me a little surprised and he said, “Fine. Where are you going?” I told him that I was trying to get to Cajamarca and asked if this was the right way. “Yes and no”, he replied. “it is the right way but the long way.” I asked, “What would recommend?” He told me that the other way is best. “Great,” I said. “I shall go that way.” “Oh!” I said. “May I take a photo of you and your partner?” “Yes,” he said. I took the photo and off I went and kept on going.
Peru National Highway Police
The recommended road was a pretty ride across the desert with sand dunes and mountains that were almost entirely covered with sand. However, it is very sad to see so much trash along the side of the road. Trash in Peru is a serious problem.
To avoid speed traps I rode a slow 150 miles on a straight road. I just wanted to take my time and avoid getting stopped. Although I was traveling slower than normal, I was still making good time. When I came to the turnoff for the last 100 miles, I discovered the road was gravel and not a nice paved road as my map indicated. Instead it was a rocky, bumpy, and dusty road. The road rose from an elevation of 10,000 to 10,700 feet. It was a pretty road but between the traffic, dust, and construction, I was more than ready of get off the road and call it a day.
Once I settled in Cajamarca I took a nice walk in this interesting colonial city. The history of the city goes back 3,000 years, long before the Incas ruled the area. It was here in Cajamarca that the Inca Empire came to an end at the hands of Francisco Pizarro.
In 1552 Atahualpa, the last Emperor of the Incas, came to Cajamarca to meet with Pizarro, the Spanish conqueror, in the Plaza de Armas. Instead of meeting with Pizarro, Pizarro had Atahualpa captured and imprisoned. Atahualpa was imprisoned in a medium sized room. For his release Pizarro wanted Atahulapa to fill the room he was being held in with gold and twice the amount in silver. Pizarro accepted Atahualpa’s offer and Atahualpa provided the gold and silver as promised. However Pizarro, being the nice guy that he was, executed Atahualpa and took the gold and silver to Spain.
The actual room were the Emperor Atahualpa was jailed and also the room that was filled with gold and silver.
Pizarro and Atahualpa
when two worlds clash