Back in Peru - conquering the fortress of Kuélap

After an adventurous journey, we finally reached the Ecuadorian-Peruvian border. There was something new for us there. The two countries were actually separated by a barrier and a bridge. We parked Maggi on the bridge between the barriers and completed the formalities. The exit went smoothly. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the entry. The older customs officer told us that his computer program was not working and he could only ask the relevant authority for advice in the next few days. You can imagine how disappointed we were. Several days in no man's land between barriers. Well, after Silke begged for a few minutes, the officer sought assistance from a young officer familiar with food labeling. Our hero 😊 explained to the officer that his computer program was working perfectly fine. The message simply indicated that a Windows update was running in the background.

And we were able to enter on the same day 😊. The next day, we experienced another small curiosity. Maggi's Peruvian insurance had expired and we needed a new one. After a short search, Silke found the office, while Kai looked after Maggi. However, it was not a traditional insurance office. The room was a combination of a funeral home and an insurance office. Different coffin models were lined up on the right and left, and next to chandeliers and funeral ornaments, you could arrange your insurance. Unique experience 😊.

Our first tourist destination was the fortress of Kuélap. This site was built long before the Inca period (around the 9th century) and the Chachapoya people fiercely resisted the Incas. Kuélap sits on a hilltop and has been easily reached by a dizzying cable car for two months now.

The futuristic building of the valley station does not fit the small village of Chachapoyas and its adobe houses at all. After a short explanation video in the shuttle bus, we were allowed to board the cable car. The ride lasted an astonishing 20 minutes, but the return trip took a bit longer. We got stuck at the steepest point. For Kai, it felt like endless three minutes, but we made it down safely 😊. The complex was quite large, but thanks to English signs and explanations, the walk was quite entertaining.