Marian Johns' Journal of the Desert
Explorers trip to Peru in 2002
Images by John Page unless otherwise noted
Day 28, October 1, Tuesday
Trujillo To Lima See Map
Oct. 1, Tuesday – Our last day! We managed to find our way out of Trujillo after getting lost and then drove south. Saw lots of asparagus and marigold fields on the way back to Lima. At Casma, we made a short side trip to see the archaeological site of Sechín, one of the oldest in Peru - probably older than Chavín. Most of the temple walls have been restored. They are composed of many large stone slabs with bas-relief designs and figures representing warriors and captives.
The small museum there was disappointing – not very well organized and lacking informative descriptions of the displays.
We had our lunch there, in the shade of some trees. While eating, we noticed a pitiful scrawny dog. Reda and I gave it most of our bread and some left-over mayonnaise. Poor thing – it was only walking on three legs – the fourth had evidently been injured. For many creatures and people, life is cruel. Is there is a loving god? I doubt it. If there actually is a god, I don’t believe he ever, ever meddles with the course of destiny.
The rest of the day was a nightmare. Our course of destiny was certainly not altered in our favor. Three times, we were stopped by the Policía Carretera. Never before had we been stopped even though we saw and passed by many officers and their vehicles parked along side the road. The first time we were stopped, I was driving – we were never told why we were stopped. There was no ticket or fine for that one. The second time I was also driving. This cop wanted 350 soles, the equivalent of $100 US, which we could pay at the police station by returning miles the wrong direction or by paying him directly. We felt the infraction was bogus and were seething with irate rage by the time he relieved us of $100 and sent us on our way. I decided I had had enough and turned the wheel over to John. And then, would you believe, he, too, was stopped when we somehow managed to get on the truck-and-bus-only route just north of Lima. There had been no signs that we saw indicating cars and smaller vehicles were no allowed on this route. This cop only asked for a mordida of 40 soles = $12 US “to buy gas for his motorcycle”.
We drove by the ruins of Paramonga, a large Chimu huaca, but didn’t have time to stop. Also drove by the first serious accident we have seen – a cement truck on its side evidently took a curve too fast.
Once in Lima, we took the truck directly to the airport and the National Car Rental desk. Next followed a big fuss about checking the truck for damage – not possible because it was after hours and the mechanic had already gone home. The result of that little fracas will be a partially delayed bill. We paid the fixed rental costs up front, and authorized any damage charges to be charged to John’s credit card, and then we will all owe him our share of the final bill. Paul stayed at the airport since he had a 1:00 a.m. flight home - he didn’t bother going to the hotel.
Next, we remaining three called Victor’s hostal, and they came to pick us up. We had chicken dinners sent over again, as we were too tired to eat out. Then, I had to repack my stuff using the new bag I bought in Celendín. I got to bed about 10:30.
