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Wow.. A journey of five days into the heart of the Colombian countryside.. First stop from Cartagena was Mompos, a small town left stranded on a piece of land in the 16th century after rising river levels. People just sitting around in rocking chairs in their beautiful courtyards..watching you carefully as you walked past.. Perhaps not the best place to invest in a hairdresser but figuring that she didn´t have much hair to play with, she couldn´t really get it wrong.. $2 later and I had four inches of hair on the floor..I should have done this ages ago. Feels great and my pack is lighter without conditioner and the brush!
Up at 4.30am the following day to get a jeep to El Banco..an experience as it was absolutely pouring with rain and there were already 10 in the back of the jeep when I tried to squeeze in amongst birthday cakes, baby chickens and children of all ages.. We bounced around on muddy roads for three hours, crossing a fast flowing river on the back of a ferry that looked like it had been put together that morning.. From El Banco got a bus for 8 hours to Bucaramanga and then finally onto the little town of San Gil, arriving just before 11 that evening..shattered!
Spent three days in San Gil, exploring the laid back town and enjoying the local markets every morning.. I had fruit salads for breakfast where I didn´t know the name of a single fruit.. Walked to two nearby colonial villages, Barichara (where the above photo was taken) and Guane. The landscape nearby was beautiful, with a huge canyon framing both villages and it was so cool and calm as I walked between the two..apart from the huge black vultures that were a tiny bit intimidating!
Arrived in Bogota this evening and first impressions are it is a very cool city, comfortable and friendly..my taxi driver offered to come back and pick me up this evening when he finished his shift! Have just been for a walk in ´La Candelaria´, where there are lots of great little bars and restaurants and it feels like there is a lot happening in the city..music, dance, theatre... Am leaving tomorrow to head seven hours to a coffee plantation for a few days but will come back to explore Bogota toward the end of the week..
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Tim Great blog sweetheart sound all so interesting, instead of crows they have vultures..thats ok !, the jeep ride definitely sounds third class ! but your young bones can take it. Did you take the taxi driver up on his offer? don't forget to wear a hat ! ha ha xxxxxxx dad
Jules Hey darling....What stories...this journal of yours is turning into one of those enticing travel books we buy on the shelves.. hey... Watch out for that taxi driver...hmmmm.....of course he would offer to come back to pick you up...Take care my darling, especially in Bogota...and love the time out on the plantation....the journey will no doubt be full of more tales of fascinating communal transport and landscapes...love you over the hills to find you....Mamaxxxxxx
Fiona Another wonderful entry for your trip! As Mum says, I think you should write a book. Fantastic and awe inspiring and I am still jealous!!!!! xxxxxxx