Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Hola chicos,
sorry for the delay in blog-we are trying to get back on track but with dodgy internet connection and lots of fun things to do it´s proving difficult!
So...Joe´s blog left us arriving in Medellin (Mum, before you have a heart attack, the lack of apostrophe was a computer error!). After our 16 hour, freezing cold (why is there a need for Baltic air con???) bus journey from Taganga, we were very glad to find our hostel was quiet and clean with a bonus of a flat screen cable tv! We treated ourselves to our first taste of Westernism…a Domino´s Pizza and got an early night in. The next day we headed into the centre of town on the metro (this is a BIG deal in Colombia, and the people of Medellin are very proud of their modern city!). The rain and poor quality of museums put paid to our plans of culture, so we hopped back on the metro to the El Polado region and spent an afternoon in some excellent bars around Parque Lleras in their "Zona Rosa" (yes, red light district!). It was buzzing around halloween, where we indulged in people watching and some very strong cocktails. This little square was bursting with bars and restaurants and was a significant factor in us staying on in Medellin!
The next day we embarked on the Pablo Escobar tour. Ashamedly I had to be educated by my Nan as to the importance of Medellin in the Colombian cocaine endemic, so we were keen to learn more. At his height Pablo Escobar was worth $28billion and his Medellin Cartel´s war with the Cali Cartel lead to thousands of deaths around the country and made Colombians live in fear. We visited his grave, the roof-top his was shot on (bizarre!) and went to one of his safe houses and met his nephew Nicholas who was only too happy to talk about the cocaine trade!
Our tour guide was excellent, not only teaching us all about cocaine (!) but also about Colombia´s nationwide plans and policies to try bring back it´s good name. Making Colombians feel safe before targeting tourism was the first move with the focus now on tourism. To graduate from high school you now need over 90% in your English exam (currently there is VERY little English spoken anywhere, even by hostel staff). In saying that, the city felt really different from anywhere else in Colombia, westernized, clean and looking to earn a few thousand pesos from the tourists.
Next we were off on yet another overnight bus to Popayan (making our way towards the Equadorian border). We arrived early doors to find everything shut, and so it stayed all day. It was election day in Colombia and the town was expecting trouble. Luckily our hostel had a DVD room (even Harry Potter 6 became an attractive choice) and another chilled out day was had. The hostel was run by a couple of Scots and had loads of tours and info to keep us busy. The next day we set off on a "30km downhill bike ride". Lying Scots!!!!! After being dropped off at the thermal baths at Coconuco and trying to look cool in front of the locals by not reacting to the HOT thermal baths we mounted the bikes and had to embrace 2km of downhill broken "road". Oh my lady gaga-the pain! Those saddles were not built for comfort I can tell you! We had a lovely lunch in the shadow of a waterfall and then the other 28km could be put off no longer. With my arse, thighs and hands (you had to grip on for dear life) screaming at me, whilst Joe had the time of his life, we negotiated speedy declines, long slogs of inclines and got chased by dogs!
A relaxing day was needed (it all sounds very stressful doesn´t it? I´m sure you feel really bad for us!) so we headed to a coffee plantation near Timbio. This growing coffee malarkey sounds like a lot of hard work for moderate gains. Between battling the lazy local workers and the evil, fast growing grass, the owner seemed exhausted! We headed to town to eat more steak and reflect that Popayan wasn´t a bad place to celebrate 18 months of being together, good work!
The next morning we rose at 5am to start the epic journey to Quito, Ecuador. We had been advised not to do this stretch at night……
*****Spoiler alert, I´m writing this from Ecuador…so we survived and didn´t get attacked by Guerrillas. Phew! *****
So, that was Colombia! We bloody loved it, felt really safe, enjoyed all the diverse scenery and would recommend it to anyone.
Colombia´s vitals:
Best Hostel: HostelTrail, Popayan
Best place to visit: Cartegena
Best beer: Aguila
Best steak (according to Joe´s international steak rating): Thick cut steak, Medellin
- comments
Bren Ouch! Bike related 'berry berry pain'... Still sounding great and can picture everything so much more now I've seen the pics :) xxx