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Showing posts with label Colombia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Colombia. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Monday, January 27, 2014
Cali and heading to Quito (14.01.2014 - 17.01.2014)
From Bogota we caught a cheap flight to Cali where we stayed for two nights. We explored our neighbourhood and the old town with its hill overlooking part of the sprawling city. To buy groceries we went to the Almada Gallery and cooked us some nice dinner.
To head further south we took a bus all the way to Ipiales on the ecuadorian border. On the way our bus climbed some of the northernmost part of the andes with amazing views. We saw huge cloud formations breaking/amass on mountain ridges, dark green valleys and some winding roads. Having first thought about taking a night bus we were glad we decided against it. Would have been a shame to miss this awesome scenery!
We slept in a shady hotel and got up earlyish the next day to visit Las Lajas Sanctuary. To get there we shared a cab with Chris from the states which we met in the bus from Cali. The way to and around the church is plastered with little plaques and badges thanking for miracles which happened after praying at the church. The christian church and therefor ignorance for science is still big in latin america...
The tree of us shared later another cab to the border and crossed it together without any hassle. Once in Ecuador we took a mini bus to the bus station and another bus to Quito. Six hours later we arrived in the capital of Ecuador and headed to our hostel.
To head further south we took a bus all the way to Ipiales on the ecuadorian border. On the way our bus climbed some of the northernmost part of the andes with amazing views. We saw huge cloud formations breaking/amass on mountain ridges, dark green valleys and some winding roads. Having first thought about taking a night bus we were glad we decided against it. Would have been a shame to miss this awesome scenery!
We slept in a shady hotel and got up earlyish the next day to visit Las Lajas Sanctuary. To get there we shared a cab with Chris from the states which we met in the bus from Cali. The way to and around the church is plastered with little plaques and badges thanking for miracles which happened after praying at the church. The christian church and therefor ignorance for science is still big in latin america...
The tree of us shared later another cab to the border and crossed it together without any hassle. Once in Ecuador we took a mini bus to the bus station and another bus to Quito. Six hours later we arrived in the capital of Ecuador and headed to our hostel.
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| On our way to Ipiales |
La Almeda, Cali
Alameda, Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia
I always love to go to local markets to look around, try and buy some new local fruits and vegetables. You also can get everyday household items, spices and fresh fish.
In addition you can have lunch in one of the different restaurants, of course with fresh ingredients.
I always love to go to local markets to look around, try and buy some new local fruits and vegetables. You also can get everyday household items, spices and fresh fish.
In addition you can have lunch in one of the different restaurants, of course with fresh ingredients.
Iguana Hostel, Cali
iguana.com
The Hostel Iguana run by a swiss guy is a clean, good located place to stay. In the neighbourhood you can find many restaurants and bars which provide ample opportunities to go out.
The hostel has different dorms and privat rooms with or without bathroom (9USD up to 23USD). A kitchen, the beautiful green backyard with hammocks and a grill is free to use.
The hostel is also often used longterm as a base for people who take spanish or salsa lessons.
The Hostel Iguana run by a swiss guy is a clean, good located place to stay. In the neighbourhood you can find many restaurants and bars which provide ample opportunities to go out.
The hostel has different dorms and privat rooms with or without bathroom (9USD up to 23USD). A kitchen, the beautiful green backyard with hammocks and a grill is free to use.
The hostel is also often used longterm as a base for people who take spanish or salsa lessons.
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| Our room was at the left upper window overlooking the backyard |
Flea Market, Bogota
Calle 120/Carrera 5 | Usaquen Village, Bogota, Colombia
The easiest way to get there (or elsewhere in Bogota) is by taxi. The system is very simple and user friendly - they all have to drive with the taximeter. Insist on it or get out of the cab again. Normally they have in the pocket behind the driver seat a list with all the rates.
Bogota (05.01.2014 - 14.01.2014)
We spent more than a week in Bogota. Mario and his girlfriend Liliana let us crash at their place, so we had a nice home base to do several trips in and around Bogota. As they both had to work the first couple of days Marios parents where so nice and took us to the salt mines at Nemocon. The mines have been abandoned but the canals in which they washed out the salt are still present. These reflect the colourful light and paint the caverns in amazing hues. The last time I was in Bogota we went to visit the Cathedral of Salt, another abandoned salt mine which is more famous. But the mines at Nemocon are much prettier in my opinion.
Of course we had to visit Montserrate and have a look over the city. The stalls still sell the same kitsch as the last time I visited Bogota six years ago ;)
Also a must see is the museum/gallery displaying the work of Fernando Botero, sadly the famous Gold Museum was already closed when we showed up.
We did numerous trips to the countryside, which remembered us a lot of Switzerland. Climbing the crater of lake Guatavita was also interesting, hearing the tales of El Dorado and how they tried to get to the gold the pre-colombian tribes threw into the lake in their ceremonies.
Of course we had to visit Montserrate and have a look over the city. The stalls still sell the same kitsch as the last time I visited Bogota six years ago ;)
Also a must see is the museum/gallery displaying the work of Fernando Botero, sadly the famous Gold Museum was already closed when we showed up.
We did numerous trips to the countryside, which remembered us a lot of Switzerland. Climbing the crater of lake Guatavita was also interesting, hearing the tales of El Dorado and how they tried to get to the gold the pre-colombian tribes threw into the lake in their ceremonies.
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| Funicular descending Montserrate |
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Into Colombia again (03.01.2014 - 05.01.2014)
We landed on time in Medellin and took the bus to the city center from where we shared a cab with another travelling couple. Once at our hostel we where again reminded that this is latin america. We had made a reservation over hostelworld.com for two nights. But alas, the kid "manning" the reception couldn't find it on his dirty scrap paper. It seemed the mix of online and offline reservation didn't really work, how could it. We where told we could only stay for one night. So we headed out to find a place for our second night. But as it was still holiday season it wasn’t that easy. Later the owner turned up and cleared the issue. He put two more mattresses on the floor in one of the dorms and two people slept in the common area (by purpose or just passing out we didn’t know).
We spent our day in Medellin by visiting the Botanical Garden Park and wandering around the center. The plan was to visit Parque Explora but the huge sunday crowd discouraged us. Around the Plaza Botero where many status from Fernando Botero on display, as he was born here more than 81 years ago. The legend says rubbing the bronze statues brings luck.
Early the next morning we headed further south to Bogota. The bus ride took about 10 hours with a stop for lunch in the middle. Once in Bogota we contacted Mario, an old friend from my time in Vancouver, to pick us up at the bus terminal!
We spent our day in Medellin by visiting the Botanical Garden Park and wandering around the center. The plan was to visit Parque Explora but the huge sunday crowd discouraged us. Around the Plaza Botero where many status from Fernando Botero on display, as he was born here more than 81 years ago. The legend says rubbing the bronze statues brings luck.
Early the next morning we headed further south to Bogota. The bus ride took about 10 hours with a stop for lunch in the middle. Once in Bogota we contacted Mario, an old friend from my time in Vancouver, to pick us up at the bus terminal!
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| Fat Cat - Botero |
Monday, December 23, 2013
Cartagena & Taganga (06.12.2013 - 13.12.2013)
After the first night in Cartagena my brother Joël and his buddy Patrick (not the same as in Cuba and Mexcio) joined us. We strolled through the old colonial town and ate some lovely although pricy ceviche. We didn't visit the Castillo San Felipe de Barajas as they wanted 8USD for it, we just made a picture from the outside and headed on ;)
The next day we took a bus up the coast to Santa Marta, another "little colombian town" as our cab driver told us. Only one million inhabitants ;) We soon found out that the dive shop Patrick contacted in advance wasn't in Santa Marta itself but in a little fishing village called Taganga, 20 minutes by taxi away. A much nicer place to stay compared to Santa Marta.
So Patrick was busy the next days with the PADI Open Water course and Joël, Melanie and I relaxed on the beach in the bay ;)
One day we went diving to see Patrick in action ;) Sadly the visibility was quite poor and the water was freeeeezzzzing even though we where wearing a long wetsuit. Ice diving compared to the warm waters of Utila =/ Nevertheless we saw some nice fishes.
The day after we got talked into visiting the bay "next door" which supposed to be even "better". A short boat ride later we landed in a place packed with locals and one little restaurant next the other serving the same deep fried fishes. As we where hungry we asked for the menu and they showed up with a plate of fresh caught fish. Sadly two of them where Parrotfish! Offended we ordered just some soup with rice and fries...
To get to our next destination, Caracas, we split up to meet again two days later. Joël and Patrick took a shuttle to the airport in Cartagena where they caught a flight to Bogota to stay for two nights. Melanie and I took an overnight bus to Caracas...
The next day we took a bus up the coast to Santa Marta, another "little colombian town" as our cab driver told us. Only one million inhabitants ;) We soon found out that the dive shop Patrick contacted in advance wasn't in Santa Marta itself but in a little fishing village called Taganga, 20 minutes by taxi away. A much nicer place to stay compared to Santa Marta.
So Patrick was busy the next days with the PADI Open Water course and Joël, Melanie and I relaxed on the beach in the bay ;)
One day we went diving to see Patrick in action ;) Sadly the visibility was quite poor and the water was freeeeezzzzing even though we where wearing a long wetsuit. Ice diving compared to the warm waters of Utila =/ Nevertheless we saw some nice fishes.
The day after we got talked into visiting the bay "next door" which supposed to be even "better". A short boat ride later we landed in a place packed with locals and one little restaurant next the other serving the same deep fried fishes. As we where hungry we asked for the menu and they showed up with a plate of fresh caught fish. Sadly two of them where Parrotfish! Offended we ordered just some soup with rice and fries...
To get to our next destination, Caracas, we split up to meet again two days later. Joël and Patrick took a shuttle to the airport in Cartagena where they caught a flight to Bogota to stay for two nights. Melanie and I took an overnight bus to Caracas...
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| Taganga |
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