Between the dreams and stories. I have done a bunch of other day-to-day stuff that hasn’t made it to the final cuts. So I thought I’d fill in the gaps and create the glue. I know, me and my bloody metaphors. As you know I have a theory for almost everything that involves cake - except for the one about cats and dogs. CAKE: There are infinite varieties; it all just depends on the ingredients and ratios. But there are also some basic requirements. Sounds a lot like our lives really. Well I have been making all sorts of cakes recently: [View Full Entry]

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The paramo of Chingaza Don’t know what a paramo is, no worries, neither did I until Moka told me about them. A paramo is an alpine eco system that is found in the tropical Andes above 3000 m.a.s.l., in Colombia, Ecuator, Venezuela and Costa Rica. It is guarded by Fraliones, a kind of small funky palm, and even just a quick visit will leave you physically and mentally refreshed. PART ONE At Chingaza National Park just a couple of hours from Bogotá, the landscape has been shaped by glacial movements, it is rugged and striking. Deer watch us pass as we [View Full Entry]

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San Agustin - A timeless question She looks at me through the light rain and I notice her jaguar eyes and teeth, I am told her name is Diosa de la Lluvia, (Goddess of the Rain). A rainbow sits on her head like a hat and she smiles with a promise. A promise of what? I have no idea. Unfortunately no one has any idea, the culture that made her had no written language and disappeared long before anyone could ask. Experts can only guess, and make assumptions based on other traditions with similar designs and techniques in the area. If [View Full Entry]

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Rio Claro - A crystal river, a drug lord and burning souls. It has been a pretty hectic Christmas and New Year, and from the title you can guess a little more madness has occurred. But before I get carried away, let me take a deep breath and start at the start. Tina, Moka, Isabel and Hernando, get up at the crack of dawn and head off for a road trip. Back in the Magdalena valley, the humidity makes my legs heavy with protest, and crave the cool environment of the air-conditioned car. But bravely I push on, and am rewarded [View Full Entry]

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A Colombian Wedding Wearing masks, hats, and gigantic smiles, we spill over the floor, dancing Barranquilla’s carnival style in celebration of Aurelio and Zuzanna’s wedding. For the second time this year I find myself invited to share the joy of two people celebrating the decision to share their lives. And again it is in a country I have never been to before. What can I expect from a ‘Colombian Wedding’? Moka is one of the best men and has hired a handsome suit, and to ensure I look the part my day starts at the beauty salon. Would you believe that [View Full Entry]

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Villa de Leyva Wanted signs are plastered on walls and the midday sun glistens off gun handles. A commotion breaks out on one side of the town square followed by a horse dashing off through the streets. People murmur and exclaim ‘Zorro’. Villa de Leyva is not only a popular weekend destination for Bogotans, but so dramatically picturesque that it is regularly converted into a movie set. Most recently it’s startling white buildings were painted various shades of brown to accommodate for a Zorro series. I found it quite amusing that after all these years I ha [View Full Entry]

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The Legend of El Dorado - Guatavita A dull green surface comes to life with a gentle touch from the sun. In the early dusk of morning almost one million people are gathered around the edge of the crater to make an offering of a single piece of gold. The piece is tossed into Guatavita Lake, (Laguna de Guatavita) along with the wish or thought that has been bestowed to it. The ceremony is part of keeping the balance between the male and female elements of the world and is conducted by the Muisca’s leader, (Cacique Guatavita). He is on a [View Full Entry]

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Travelling Shoes and Moka in Colombia - Zona Cafetera We made it back to Bogota!! Kidnapping fund still intact. Ok, so I always kept the door locked and was reluctant to leave my window fully down, but no-one stole the shirts from our backs while we were stopped at a red light. In fact we were entertained by juggling clowns at the red lights! Rather than my fear of being followed by suspicious, and generally dodgy looking men in the streets, a lovely lady carrying a massive basket on her head warned us to be careful with our cameras - one [View Full Entry]

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Travelling Shoes and Coffee in Colombia - Eagles and Frogs. For those of you that know me well, you will know I love nothing better than enjoying a wine in the sun with a book. Ideally something that exercises my brain, like a National Geographic - as Beth will vouch for. So get your sombrero and poncho out, pour yourself a beverage of choice and then read on. I’ll start out with one of my favourite subjects and then move onto a tale about eagles- Aguilas, and frogs - Ranas. Before I start though, a quick thanks to my Garret Lane [View Full Entry]

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Ten days in Egyt resulted in several bursting note books. So I have decided to break it down a bit. On the first day after some hot coffee we head to The Valley of Kings - Hundred's of Tombs and a Temple Still half asleep, looking through a dirty van window at 6am, dreams of Pharaohs, and gods fade away to the dawn lit dust of the West Bank, here in Luxor Egypt. Let’s kick this off with three interesting facts. Firstly most buildings here are made from sandstone or limestone. Next the hieroglyph for Egypt is KIMIT, which means ‘The [View Full Entry]

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