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Published: February 15th 2007
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Merida Teleferico
The beginning of a 12km cable car ride Hola amigos,
I left Santa Marta with Chris & the three Aussie blokes from Perth, they were headed for Caracus but Chris & I headed to Merida, the adventure capital of Venezuela. We had heard by reliable sources that the exchange rate for $US at the border is better than the banks give you, the official rate is 2100 Bolivianos to $1US we actually got 2800Bolivianos to the $US. After 2 buses overnight Chris & I arrived in Merida got ourselves a hotel & headed for the Teleferico. The teleferico or cable car is 12km long & has 4 sections an amazing structure built in the 60's (lots of drugs in the 60's I hear). The next day Chris & I took a trip canyoning down the river with 3 abseils of 6m, 18m & the final one of 35m, our guides took a camera & took videos of the whole trip. The following day Chris & I parted company he headed for Carnival in Brazil & I headed for Bogota, Colombia.
I crossed the border back into Colombia via a taxi after a bus to the border, my taxi driver took me to Venezuela immigration accross the
Merida Teleferico
The end of the cable car ride border waited half an hour at the Colombian immigration & then took me to the bus terminal for my trip to Bogota. Just another friendly & helpful Colombian, all for less than $10. I arrived in Bogota absolutely stuffed & slept from 4 in the afternoon until 7 the next morning. The following day I felt I had 'red bull' running through my veins, I went up another teleferico, just a small one this time & walked through the city for a few hours. Up early again the next day & headed to a Cathedral in the mountains, actually underground, they had different coloured lighting which made it even more spectacular. I had not had a beer for over 2 weeks so I thought I would go out for a couple of beers, met a couple of locals talked some bullshit & went back to my hotel, another interesting evening. I left for Cali on a bus trip of a mere 10 hours.
I arrived in Cali at midnight and walked to a hotel accross the road from the terminal, stayed the night & rang my friend Sandra the next day. For the next 2 weeks I stayed
Bogota Gold museum
An ancient gold creation with Sandra & her family, an amzing adventure, I enjoyed the entire experience, although sometimes trying living with four generations of one family. I met her extended family, her friends, her neighbours & a lot of people she just knew. two weeks of partying certainly has taken its toll, I haven´t done a great deal since I have been in Cali. I went to nightclubs, bars, bottle shops with chairs, sightseeing & a whole lot more. It was a little bit sad to leave Cali but as I am metting 2 mates in Lima Peru in a week I have to get a move on. One week to travel 12 degrees of latitude overland.
I crossed the border of Colombia & Ecuador with 1kg of Colombian coffee, not knowing what would happen, nothing did, I still have 1 border crossing & 3 airports to go until the coffee is in Australia, I hope. I arrived in Quito Thursday night & booked 2 tours for the weekend. My first tour was on Saturday to Cotopaxi Volcanoe. I had 2 travel partners for the day an American girl & an elderly Swedish women. We arrived at the volcanoe & tried to
Bogota Underground cathedral
The underground Cathedral spectacular walk up to the base camp 4800m, the altitude took its toll on my American friend, the Swedish woman hardly tried to make it, so we turned back because we couldn´t see 10m in front of us. When we walked back to the car the clouds cleared & we could see that we got within 25m of the Base camp, not to worry. The next day I headed to Mindo, again with 2 travel partners, the same American girl & an American/Russian guy who could not speak Spanish. We went to a waterfall a Butterfly farm, an orchid nursery, a hummingbird sanctuary & a Museum at the Equator. By for the most interesting experience was the museum at the Equator, I was able to balance an egg on its point, see water spin two different ways down a drain, use a blow dart gun & see how you strength is less at the equator. My travel companions for the day are still non believers that these things are possible even after witnessing them first hand. Monday I had free to walk around the city & take a couple of shots, before I begin my epic journey to Lima via another
Sandra & I
Sandra & I at a Party in Cali border crossing.
Two days after leaving Quito I arrived in Lima Peru, one 13 hour bus a 5 hour break at Tumbes & another 19hour bus to Lima. Today is the 15th February & I am meeting two mates for a three week hiking tour of Peru, the next blog will be a joint experience with Col & Gary, I hope you enjoy it as much as we will.
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