January 2019

Salento

I did love this little town! All colorful, and prepared still for the holidays season, plenty of shops. The town become alive at night even though we were late for the “ferias” (carnavales). We were driving on the "eje cafetero". Such a great drive, a big new highway in the canyon, the intensity of the greens, and exquisite "fincas" with stables all over the place. From here we drove to Cocora Valley and did a great walk! Soaking wet, going up to 2,800 mt, to be closer to the tall palms; then all the way down to the river and crossing many bridges made me feel like Indiana Jones. 6 hours, 12 km... and we are dead!

Manizales

Finally on time! We catch up the yearly ferias here. Never seen so many people together on the same spot! Hundreds and hundreds walking elbow to elbow through the streets, all the shops, all the food! Interestingly enough, with such a crowd, I never felt unsafe ??

Tatacoa Desert

We thought that Road Runner and the Coyote were going to appear at any moment! It was like a Disney set... such as incredible and unreal this desert is. Funny formations and colors, we did a walk under a sunny 40 degrees…and sadly couldn’t stay to see the starts as I become sick from the heat

somewhere on a night on a petrol station, near the desert of Tatacoa.

I am writing this after so many days without writing, reflecting back in what has been already such a great experience in Colombia. The country did not disappoint us a bit, and it was no an exaggeration when other travellers told us many many times about the Colombian people. We have had so incredible experiences so far. Where the Brazilians were helpful and intense and so friendly, the Colombians… well, they treat you like you are family! They entered our home without asking permission for example, just saying... ”I want to see your place”... and up they do! You can hear the music coming from every house, every corner. They are interested in us; they want to get to know us. We have seen countless cars just followed us and stop for a chat. And in the streets, they do wave us as we do pass thought the roads.

COLOMBIA

Can’t believe we are finally in Colombia! New country…yuppppppyyyy!!! We are really excited to finally be here. In every meeting with every traveller Colombia has always come back as “the place” “the people”. It was also such a great relief to be moving north… as I jokingly have called the Ecuador passage the “Rivadavia entre Ciudadela y Ramos”… so many times we have come and go! (and funnily enough we will have to come back, as Aus will be calling and Colombia visa arrangements will not allow us to leave the motorhome here, go back to Ecuador to continue the trip!!!).

Las Lajas

First point. Slept in the very new monorail parking lot. On Christmas (how appropriate!) we did a big walk towards the Santuario de Las Lajas. A magnificent church set in the middle of the canyon! From aside it looked like one of those big European castles, all done with stones.

Laguna de Cocha

A beautiful drive, the Panamerican route, on the mountains. Lush forests, a river run in the canyon, and it is cold! We arrived to the lake, a strange place! A line of restaurants and souvenirs shops at one end of the lagoon, canals and little bridges a la Venice! and all decorated for Christmas! It was like a magic town coming out of a fairy-tale book! And the water pump is not working again!

Popayan

The white city. Very pretty. We were reunited here with Caro (a fellow traveller) and ended the year in someone’s house, celebrating someone’s 90 birthday. A very random and boring end of the year!

Sylvia

The interesting thing in this town was the people still dressing with the traditional clothing! It totally looked like as we had stepped into a time machine!

Pance River

I think all Cali is here! Holidays plus weekend plus 30 something degrees! I believe the whole city comes down to this glorious river with beautiful rock formations and small waterfalls. Picnics, families, a perfect place to be!

Cali

The salsa capital city. I must confess my apprehension as getting to big cities. Always. But if there is something I didn’t need to be was afraid. We parked in a nice suburb, on a little park. We were going to be there only 1 to 2 days, getting to know the city and then go. But our “neighbours” had other plans! 4 days later, a party with cuban band, sangria and paella, another night going salsa dancing…and the city was unexpected! It has so much life…vibrant, so many different places with bars and restaurants, it is a very cool city. All the parks at night filled with people, and the cutest one, San Antonio, on top of a mountain the cutest of all