Me Gusta Colombia

July 14 - July 31

I have finally arrived in the great country of Colombia.  This marks the northern most country in S. America and I feel its a good one to end my travels on this continent.  Me gusta Colombia (I like Colombia) because it has the friendliest people of all the places I've been to so far on my travels.  They're always willing to help you and want you to enjoy your stay in their country.  The country is beautiful.  I've only seen a little bit here in the south which is suppose to be more dangerous than up north.  I haven't felt in danger yet and I think its safer than some other places in S. America.  I think its perfectly fine traveling here as long as one uses common sense. I have been told not to take overnight buses in the south (south of Cali to the border) because their are sometimes robberies.  I haven't seen that many gringos down here which must mean that a lot of them are avoiding traveling this section because of the supposed increased risk.

One of the first interesting signs I've seen here.  I think the women put this sign up.  Seems a bit biased.  haha!

Sanctuario de las Lajas is a few kms outside of Ipiales. Its an interesting church that is built above the river.  They are building an ariel tram there so people can be really lazy and not have to walk down into the canyon.

I only spent one night in Ipiales and then took a 2 hour bus ride to Pasto.  I spent 2 nights there so I could wash all my clothes and go see Laguna la Cocha.  I didn't end up going out to the island as it wasn't a nice day.  So I just walked around the little town and took pictures of the boats on the waterway there.

From Pasto I took a 6 hour bus ride to Popayán.  This city reminds me of Sucre Boliva because of its Colonial architecture.

I stayed in Park Life Hostel which had a great view of Plaza Caldas in the center

While at the hostel I asked Viviana the gal who worked the front desk to teach me some salsa.  Oh my can she dance.  I feel like an elephant trying to do the steps with her. haha!

I only spent one night the first time I was in Popayán and went to San Agostin which is rural and has pre-Colombian carvings.  Its a 4.5 hour ride there and at one point my bus was stopped because of a truck that was stuck.

I was privy to a cock fight there, and I can honestly say I don't enjoy that kind of thing.

I did a hike down to Rio Magdalena to a place called El Stretcho where the rivers is at its narrowest.  I wouldn't want to fall into it there.

Parque Arqueologico is where the pre-Colombian statues were found in a field.  Some of them even look like people I know. ;) haha!

I took a local bus to Parque Puracé for the day.  The bus driver forgot to drop me off at Termales de San Juan.  So I had to walk 10km back to it.  That place is a very wet place and so I got soaked and very cold.  When I reached the cabin at San Juan there was a group of students from Popayán that were really kind to me and gave me a hot drink, some food, and a warm top.  I'm continually cared for by the most generous and loving people.  The bus that was suppose to come by at 5:30pm for Popayán never arrived, so one of the guys flagged a passing truck and I rode with the driver to Popayán.  It was a very slow ride as the road is full of pot holes.  Anyway I enjoyed the adventure of riding in a truck. haha!

Playing at the Equator

June 5 - 13

I did some running back and forth around the equator to maximize my fun.  Enjoy :)

Quito is a high capital city at 2850m (9350 feet) and very green. I took the teleférico up towards Mt. Pichincha and then climbed the remainder of the way to 4694m (15400 feet). The air was definitely very thin up there and the clouds were obscuring any view I might have had from the summit. Anyway, its always great to get out and hike.

Basilica del Voto Nacional

Plaza Grande

While in Quito the Pope came to town so I went down to the old airport to see the mass of people. Here's what it looks like.

I ended up backtracking to Latacunga (2 hrs west of Quito) so I could go do the Quilotoa trek. Its similar to Crater Lake and I felt that I should check it out as well as enjoy a small trek there. I met a Swiss guy named Matt at the hostel in Latacunga and we ended up hiking this trek together in 2 days. The Swiss definitely hike quickly and it was nice to have someone go my speed. The countryside around Quilotoa is beautiful and it makes me wonder if most of Ecuador is like this and the tourist just doesn't see it.

I love how I can be right on the edge.  This would not be the case back home. haha!

Cloud Forest Hostel

A bridge that has seen better days...:)

Talkative pig :)

After returning to Latacunga, I decided to do a 1 day trip to Cotapaxi where we were supposed to be able to climb to the bottom of the glacier. Well the weather was so bad (80km wind and sleet being blown into our faces so hard it stung) that we only made it to the Refugio. That's still at an altitude of 4800m. I met couple from New Mexico, Lucio and Cat who were awesome and I decided to go north with them to Otavalo so I had some great people to hike Laguna Cuicocha.

Lucio is from Mexico although he doesn't look like it.  Cat is a world traveler and is showing Lucio how great it is to travel.  They're both teachers and make a great couple.  In Otavalo we visited the market and we all came away with something.  I did end up buying some colorful orange and red pants that will be good for the hotter climate up north.  Look for a picture of them in a future blog post.

Beautiful colored yarn at the market in Otavalo

Hiking around Laguna Cuicocha was nice even though the day wasn't sunny.  Its another volcanic lake with a couple islands in the middle and about 14km around.  It made for a nice day hike with Lucio and Cat.  

I ended up coming back to Quito so I could see Sal & Gisela.  Its always great seeing them and I consider them my family.  I had some good Indian food with them and Lucio.  Then we made an afternoon trip to Mitad del Mundo (middle of the earth) or where the equatorial line is. I didn't feel like paying money to go see the line as I did that the last time I was here in 2008. So I took a picture of the monument from the entrance.  

Middle of the World