Blogs from Bogota, Colombia, South America - page 56

Well after months of thinking about it, weeks of talking about it and even a few days preparing for it (and no, I still havent packed) - the day has finally dawned ... my last day in England before heading out to Bogota. So i imagine this is what it feels like the night before you get married ... a combination of fear, excitement and massive cold feet!! But hey, its too late now, the visa has arrived, the flight is booked, I've said my goodbyes and all i have to do is pack!! Next time you hear from me I will be in the thick of it in Colombia ... until then adios amigos ... read more

Hopping over the Ecuadorian border into Colombia was so easygoing (the best border crossing yet) and the landscape around there is so lush and green you just want to take it with you. Endless valleys and thick jungle, this is Colombia! We landed in Popayán, a colonial city in the south and had the good fortune of witnessing some festivities on our only day there. mini hot-air balloons were being sent up over the city, some shooting off fire works, some crumpling back to earth on fire and others sailing through the skies of Popayán, nestling down on a patch of grass somewhere. A nerdy afternoon was spent ogling stuffed animals and rocks in the Museum of Natural Historical Stuff, and boy did they have a lot of poor little creepy dead birds, as well as ... read more

Villa de Leyva is a nice colonial town 3 hours away from Bogota. It is a MUST SEE in Colombia and I am not kidding. In half an hour I managed to switch my opinion from complete and utter disappointment into the outmost desire to spend eternity in this place. Plaza Mayor leaves you with a sour taste and the desire to flee the place without looking back. It is vast- it is said to be the largest town square in Colombia!! and when we got there it was deserted! Some mutts, some white washed buildings and no colonial flavour whatsoever , maybe just a tiny bit, anyway not enough to justify or explain this town's huge popularity amongst tourists and backpackers!! But once you enter the first restaurant and see the patios and the paradise-like ... read more

What can I say, Colombia has it all, Caribbean coastline, friendly people, beautiful landscape and a drink called Colombiana which is almost exactly the same as Irn Bru. They also serve fruit salads with cheese on top, but I´m still getting over that one... And if you thought the last photo was bad, then there´s none at all in this entry as my top quality 40pound -off - ebay camera has decided to give up already. So I will just have to paint pictures with words... The camera gave up the ghost at altitude (that might have been the problem) in the cable car from Merida in Venezuela which is the longest and highest in the world. And we were pretty lucky with the weather, as it wasn´t until we got right to the top (4700m) ... read more

Ok, I know I've been a bit slack seeing I started writing this 2 months ago but have only just got around to adding the photos. So here is the last installment of my Columbia & Guatemala trip. Back in Bogota again and it was still a bit over whelming. Although my spanish has now become existant I'm still struggling. People here speak very fast unlike Guatemala where everyone just cruised along. but the good thing is that I can understand so much more than I did before and in a round about way can have a very basic conversation. If I didn't mention it last time I was in Columbia I will try my best to describe Bogota. Bogota is a massive city with so many confusing bits about it. it is surrounded by mountains ... read more