Bogota Bike Tours is run by Mike. a journalist from California. Having spent most of his life reporting from every country in a South America for newspapers , he lost out to the power of the internet. Needing something to do he combined his vast wealth of knowledge and two wheels to start his company. We set off around the city to explore areas where normally you'd fear to tread. Mike gave us background to to Colombian Conflict, and took the street where the peoples hero Gaitan was assassinated in 1948. His murder was the turning point for Colombia, riots on the streets, and political disenfranchisement of the far left and right, the ramifications of which are still being felt today. Other assassination places of politicians, comedians and those who did not conform or were thought ... read more

"Colombia? Estas muy loco? " said my Colombian born, now Spanish resident, taxi driver on the way from Madrid airport to my hotel for the night. " Es muy Pelligroso". Arriving from Ibiza, where I now live and work as an English teacher, I asked him to take me to the Casa Bellvista hotel, as I had booked a hotel for one night before jetting off to Bogota in the morning. "It's very close to the airport" I told him showing him the address and name of hotel that I'd written down on a piece of paper. "Never heard of it" was his reply. "Ni Hotel ni direccion" I re-checked all my emails. "Si, Hotel Casa Bellavista, Carrea 20 #12B" I said. "Ah -I read on... Bogota" ,This was the hostel I've booked when I land ... read more

I am writing these thoughts sat high above one the most incredible sights I have ever had the fortune to witness. I am at the Inti Punku 'Gate of the Sun' at 2500 mtrs high looking down below onto a sight that has bought a tear to my eye. The lost city of the Incas, Machu Picchu. 'the old mountain'. Today is up there with the best of my travels. My dive to the barrier reef, the mirror effect of Lake Wanaka the parachute jump at Mount Cook, South Island, New Zealand, standing naked under a huge waterfall in the mountains of Vietnam. What I am quietly looking at has quite literally blown me away. A village constructed on top of a mountain some 2400 mtrs above sea level, and a 400 mtrs from the valley ... read more

Have arrived at my final destination, Cusco. A smooth and trouble free 40 minute flight instead of 11 hours on bumpy bus to a town of 400,000 soles nestled high in the Andes. My purpose of visit is the 4 day Inca trial to the lost city of Machu Picchu. Well I say lost, it is clearly now found, but is was lost up until 1911 when it was found and it's location remains known until this day, until I presume, it will be lost again. Why it was lost in the first place I hope to discover whilst here and I just hope that it remains found until at least the end of my trek. Otherwise we will all be lost and may never to be found. So the usual bullshit from the taxi drivers ... read more

Oh Chile, oh Chile you captured my heart. and as I move north, it is hard to depart. Your people, your mountains, your desert, your coast You are all rightly proud to stand up and boast. Oh Patagonia,what land, of stunning beauty of windswept landscape, and bended tree, Set sail for los pengiunos but they'd have to wait Adrift as we were in Magellan strait. Oh Torres de Paine my breath you took Determined to trek you by hook or by crook, ... read more