Blogs from Bogota, Colombia, South America - page 55

Huilattiin rannalla aamupäivä ennen Bogotaan lähtöä. Iltapäivällä pakatessa ihmeteltiin miten rinkka vaan paisuu ja paisuu vaikka ei olla mitään ostettu. Maksettiin lasku ja hypättiin taas hiaceen määränpäänä bussiterminaali. Saatiin yöbussi suhteellisen helposti. Lähtöön oli tosin kaksi tuntia, mutta se meni mukavasti bussiyhtiön ”vip-huoneessa” telkkarista fudista katsellen. Bussin nytkähtäessä liikenteeseen Katjalle tuli hieman huono olo. Tai sitten se tuli sen jälkeen, kun oltiin tuhottu pussillinen sipsejä ja vaahtokarkkeja (herkut meni sitä vauhtia, että hyvä että oltiin edes bussiterminaalista päästy ulos). Bussimatkalla oli myös todella kylmä vaikka meillä oli meidän lämminkerta mukana. Täytyy varmaan nostaa varustelutasoa yhdellä pykälällä ja ottaa seuraavalla kerralla vaellustakit mukaan. Bogotaan päästyämme käytiin vielä bussiterminaalissa kyselemässä lompakkoa, jos se olis... read more

Just four days before Bush comes to town things hot up at the National University ... Colombia´s biggest public university, when a riot kicks off. Students with hardscarfs covering their faces throw rocks and mini hand made bombs at the police, the police respond with armoured tanks spraying water at the protestors and tear gas if they get to close. We were standing in the crowd watching until someone decided to chuck some of the tear gas at us! I legged it, my heart pounding and managed to get away in time. My friend wasnt so fast and when he caught up with me had eyes streaming from the gas. Think that is the fastest i have ever ran! Didnt go back after that ... quite enough excitement for one day! On sunday, when Bush is ... read more

This was supposed to be an entry on downtown Bogota, but unfortunately i managed to lose all the photos ... So we will now cut to a day out at the finca ... an amazing farm house about 2 hours drive from Bogota. I went with my volunteer friend Ben and the extended family of the family he is staying with. It was amazing ... a 5 hour BBQ with a lovely Colombian family and all the aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins etc etc etc! A real family gathering! The farm was set in the mountains, with amazing views, blue skies and scorching sun. Unfortunately I also managed to lose most of those photos, so attached are the final four i managed to salvage, but at least you can check out the views, but unfortunately none of ... read more

With only one day in Bogotá there wasn't much time for sight seeing but after meeting a few really cool peeps I decided that there wasn't anything else to do other than commiserate my last day in Columbia but celebrate the time that I’d had. However even though I was only there for one day it never made it uneventful. After traipsing around the streets trying to find a decent bar open in down Bogotá (It’s the capital city and I wouldn't have it that nothing was on) we found the pub at the end of our road open and I encouraged a guy called Dennis who had been on a recent bender to drink blue stuff cocktails with me. When we decide to venture home at 3ish we had some random homeless guy pestering us ... read more

The next morning I headed to the bus terminal in Quito and hopped a bus to Tulcan. From there I took a taxi to the border and then a micro to Ipiales. It was the easiest border crossing I have ever done. From there I continued on to Pasto and spent a couple of days in that region. The bus rides were long but had spectacular views. Went to Cali and stayed at the Iguana which I would recommend. Cali was the first place I really saw any tourists. Not a whole lot to do there unless you are into salsa. After a couple of days I headed to Bogota which was a great city. It reminded me of Mexico. Tried to stay at the Platypus which was highly recommended but they were booked for the ... read more