Eternal heaven for a troubador

It doesn’t walk at the beat of a chaotic city but each one of its landscapes to visit, something else beyond that imagined is found. In Canchaque, that romantic sky which Miguel Ciccia sang us on Rosal Viviente becomes real. Here the thousand of green tones conjugate with the fine aroma of coffee and rosebushes, here every landscape is a photograph extravagance, ever implanted by the power of Mishawaca and Campanas Mounts.

 

By Luis Paucar Temoche (Special to FACTORTIERRA)

 

    CANCHAQUE, Peru – Two and a half hours tripping drive to this town that, instead of compromising the visitor because the altitude (3600 feet), distracts the view with green landscapes and its colorful flowers. Morning, afternoon, or night. Whenever the hour, getting to the Suiza Piurana [Piura’s Switzerland]is meeting a piece of wonderful land.

 

So far the noiseness of the city and the ssmoke steam of the cars, the trip is not easily forgettable. Along the trail, there will be a moment to enjoy the coffee made in a little case, recognized worldwide, or maybe an eggnog made with shaken eggand distilled sugarcane liquor (cañazo) plus a good touch of carob fruit syrup (algarrobina).

 

With a mug in the hand and from any restaurant, a first look at the panoramic can be taken, that is just one of the many attractions this little valley at the Piura’s sierra keeps in.

 

    From tiles to fine style

When you get to Canchaque, the first impression you have is the main square that, despite small, is a pretty warm place. Every tile set and decorated geometrically gives it a happy and fine air that increases with its gardens. Some steps up, a colorful wáter font with an angel handling a torch on its top is let to see, seemed to enlight this town that looks for reaching its development little by little.

 

In front of the square is the Saint John The Baptist’s Temple. Its structure of mud brick and cast stucco over pine beams is well conserved. Its space is wide and its frontwall raises in two belltowers ended in domes. Beside, two bells ring daily summoning the people, and over its door, the urn containing Saint John The Baptist’s body, who blesses everyone looking up at him, or better, to everyone who visits this rustic town.

 

    A relaxing bath

There are things the most of tourists are interested to do, like the walks to the natural places of Canchaque for example. Along our way through intense Green, we find a variety of trees like the poplar, the fig tree, the willow, the intimpa tree, and the holy stick. It’s charming to see all these unexplainable colors to the Sun, painting a sea of clouds until vanishing at all.

 

Definetly, a dreaming show. But as if it only could happen in dreams, the Mishawaca’s Coppers could be this choice. This natural wonder is one of the most attractive pristine waterfalls that Canchaque has been awarded with. It was named so because of the shape the rocks have acquired, patiently modeled by the water on its eternal falling.

 

The last trip, the guides said me it was not known where its water comes from. Someones say from the giant mountains, and others say they’re may be the own irrigations of Nature. The true is this is a very marvel that incites the visitor to take a bath, that restores the 45 minutes of intensely demanding walk to the site.

 

    After Ciccia’s intense heaven

Canchaque is that heaven that Miguel Ciccia sang us on Rosal Viviente (Living Rosebush), and now that I see it, I realize again it is indeed, this extraordinary town, despite being far to the technology, keeps its habits like in its beginning. That despite having the regular poverty indexes, it’s an excellent option if you want to take out all the stress killing you.

 

Just arriving, you realize the chosen place was not in vain, that is a different place to the yours, surrounded by beautiful landscapes overall. Visiting each one of its wonders is meeting face-to-face the harmony, the quietness, and the happiness – I invite you to visit Canchaque. Get motivated to go after the Ciccia’s eternal heaven.

 

The gastronomy of Canchaque doesn’t leave behind. Its typical and tasty food is prepared with banana and bean, the ever present creole hen stew, fried guinea pigs, and on Sunday, the nutritive fried pork, boiled banana, and creole pickle. All this with an aromatic coffee.

 

The district celebrates its anniversary on September 5^th beginning with the Holy Mass followed by Saint John’s procession, the town party, folkloric dances, and zone’s typical food exhibition

 

Just a ghost’s tale

To end this story, it’s necessary to mention the so own and authentic legend of this city – the peculiar tale of La Chununa, a Canchaque’s ghost character. It’s commented through the cold mountains, a woman ddescends to carry on the non-baptized children. She’s long, blonde hair, the few ones who heard her  say she meows, someones who say to see her and who transmitted this scary tale, affirm she walks with the aankles forward. Who are manifested by her, lose conscience, drool like rabid dogs, tremble.

 

According to the very kind and honored Mrs Cecilia commented us, the kids are kidnapped. It was the case of her neighbor Amelia’s Little baby boy, who left him in the yard. Abstracted by the chores, she missed him. Hours later, because of the child’s silence, she decided to look for his location. As she didn’t find him in places of the house where he could hide in, she wwent out rushly through the yard that limited the slope of a mountain. She climbed it up, walked ffollowing a cry, finding her non-baptized son at the rim of a creek. Since that incident, Amelia Baptized his son and advocated for this religious ceremony to all the mothers of non-baptized children.

 

So, there’s no doubt that for its location, its altitude, its different landscapes, and its nice weather, Canchaque is an excellent choice for who want to oxygen the lungs, get out and release for a while from the problems of the city, walking a bit, and meeting themselves. In that sense, all the foreigners enjoy this attraction because they set their problems free for meeting the Nature and rebuilding the soul.

 

So, the touristic guides give testimony and assure that the people who arrive stressed or tired whatever, come out back wide smiled because it’s very nice to breath the air of peace and quietness this place gives us. Its beautiful landscapes and pretty sky charm, fascinate, and make up over because of the simple and complex this city results. Check out and comment more pictures related to this story (references are in Spanish).

 

© 2011, 2020 Luis Claudio Paucar Temoche.