Savanna Samson And Friends

depth to the Caribbean ...

Bogota and vicinity.

Reach Bogota con algunos problemas con la tarjeta, casi sin plata en el bolsillo y desencontrandome con Daniel (Derozo), un viajero con el que me había comunicado. Por suerte, Ale (Alejandro3030) en seguida me contacto con una amiga que me salvo de pasar una noche vaya a saber donde. Había llegado casi oscureciendo a la capital y como en todas las grandes ciudades, esa no es una buena opción.

Ya al otro dia de casualidad termine hablando con Mauricio (Mauro-Colombia), digo por casualidad porque yo estaba seguro que él estaba de viaje por Mexico en ese momento. Me dio una gran mano, esa semana me quede en su casa mientras esperaba que se solucionara mi problema con la tarjeta at that point I brought more problems than anything else. Anyway, my savings were nearly exhausted and thus would soon only a memory. In Chiquinqura visit the "cathedral of salt," salt mine would say in reality, which in former mine tunnels was an entire set scenographic (very well made about the lack of intervention) on to Catholicism. Something different to do although no longer a tourist attraction.

In Villa de Leyva was the last one evening, mind a thousand times that the camera has stopped working, is one of those towns to photograph from all angles, cobblestone streets, a particular architectural style as in many Colombian towns.

I remove the desire to buy the guitar, do a bit of memory, which suit buenos aires split into several pieces in Bolivia after the fall before reaching Tupiza in Chiquinquirá there are many manufacturers instruments, very good and cheaply, another very red for a traveling companion. Happy with my new purchase, (I guess later is going to be a good source of income) I went to San Gil. They say is a good place for extreme sports and adrenalin these issues, the truth that end and waste of adrenaline I have my journey, stop to rest a few days and then yes, I had nothing else to do but give it right up to the Caribbean.

That night, like the previous two tent arm stations, this time in Black River, a village on the outskirts of Bucaramanga, and out of Bogotá, the rush to get to northern Colombia and begin to take shape crossing Panama and was a flower skin. Start early, at 6 am and had to go fully armed, drive all day, almost ten hours, there is little to stop and see, just for lunch, refuel and stretch your legs every so often. Peoples (Near the border with Venezuela), I did not like too much, best I could do was continue to accelerate.

Far North.

Two storms I endured that day, one in the morning and afternoon, that kind of rain that sudden intense not need more than five seconds to leave me completely soaked.

After a little over seven months was coming to himself Caribbean Sea, this may be just a detail but it is nevertheless an important moment, reaching the northern tip of South America ... it is not enough, this question I had a little reflection as a kind of inventory of moments and situations, as advance balance and perhaps inevitable.

rodadero I stayed in a pretty tourist beach, near Santa Marta , the last place allegedly was THE place to visit in this area, frankly I do not like anything, not if it is my sense of wonder comes a little overwhelmed, maybe this feeling I've been having trouble, do not know. I spent several days at this beach if it was worth a little tanned, then I wave to the artisans who were stopping there, I could not miss Argentina, one from Cordoba who was hanging around a year ago. A crazy Buenaventura gave me a clip round tip for laburar wire and said "no clip and wire craftsman this shit plots, has" the gift and made me a nice gesture

thought to remain until the other weekend in the rodadero, but things got murky with police first, because without my account passes twice the street from the beach (where was the sentry box) without a helmet, it is not in use, if not every morning at breakfast in a bakery wi-fi I had two blocks, then whenever I passed that stage to get closer as the sand was very short I forgot to put it on a boludez, but I got caught twice. The second was that long balls were swelling with the artisans. I had three options, to flee from the police if trying to sell something, bribes (it was what they wanted) or send me to move. Obviously I chose option three.

done this, Barranquilla was the next station, I had connected Carolina, there would stop a couple of days, I needed to do some things to the Rojita, the rear wheel had virtually broken ball bearing, adjust and clean up some chain and it was time to do oil change. The heat makes in Barranquilla is mortal, is as strong as sudden rain, this alternation was waning a little overkill of the sun. I would have liked to share a few more days to Carolina, my new friend Barranquillera but unfortunately and on television, at that moment in time I was very tyrant so I had to leave for Cartagena, where he once would have to begin to resolve this question of crossing over to Panama ... but that, that'll tell you in the next entry.

What Is Pooping A Lot A Sign Of

Medellin ... but we can tell medal! Say

The next destination was Medellin, from Manila had two choices, go for the Pan-American about two hours of journey, route in good conditions, without much shock or rather put me on mountain roads and visit some people ... there was not much to think about, obviously I chose the second option. Life in the villages of Colombia has a very special, different from Peru or Bolivia, so if it's similar to these two countries is how much we live the street, public space, but particularly here is that this life is much more sociable, more sharing, more bars, taverns, pool, men in particular has a strong presence in public life, with its inevitable hat, sometimes on horseback, or by taking a red wine and chatting at a bar table. The architecture and layout of these people contribute a lot to create this atmosphere is the perfect setting for this mode of life. Towns like Neyra, Salamina, Aguadas Aranzasu and fit well with this description.

Medellín, city of eternal spring, the countries of beautiful women ... could be a long time beautifying this city, is simply that I loved ... the climate, architecture, food, friendliness of people, women (although I have to say that in general is beautiful at times superficial, plastic ... looks and queens might say); is nowhere near what one might think a priori of this city, clearly one of ignorance leads him to think first in the Medellin Cartel, the well never weighted Pablo Escobar, drugs, murders, kidnappings. Last time you could say, the transformation that "suffered" Medellín in the last fifteen years surprises and strangers (like me), the sense of country ownership is enviable, it can be seen especially in parks, public space , in the subway (it has more than fifteen years and it seems that opened last week), the city itself, treatment of people, the country really feel proud of where they live and above all ... I care.
Of course not everything is rosy, all cities show their best side to tourism while hiding the dirt under the rug, despite everything mentioned above, Medellín is not exempt from the evils of all large cities, drugs, violence, exclusion and everything that comes with that addition, the special thing about this city is this transformation that made you stop being a place dominated by these evils to advance to control and move even to be an excellent model example of urban planning. It is the impression I take away from this city after giving a few turns, cross it and find out a little of the urban situation.


sebas Loko and Mauri had baptized me in the messages we had crossed, the traveler paisa where I stayed and got into town just took me to a party where the liquor Antioquia nothing short of stunning me ... good way starting with Medellin.
I get used and I quickly locate within the city, very organized, well marked, many high quality public spaces, enjoy much Medellín, also from my side of architect.
With George, first we went to another traveler paisa do parts of the city, and later with the same mauri in around the center.

After a week of rest in the most beautiful city (with the exception of Buenos Aires, of course) in South America, turned again to the path. Three hundred miles separated me from the capital, had no thought of doing so in the day, there were some places and people to visit. Guatapé for example, a reservoir area dominated by a giant stone, but eh giant, should have about two hundred meters high, monolithic, they say fall (¿?). space As if one stone was not enough, the incredible landscape surrounding a small lakes that are all together Guatapé reservoir. I stayed several hours worth be just contemplating such immensity, so much beauty. To all this, my camera was restarted in Medellin after more than two months so I could portray all this a bit.
I left when the evening fell inexorably over me again to deal with gas stations, finish assembling tent on a toll station when it was at night, it rained for several hours.

Carmen (actually Carmenza, but always I shortened the name) had written me a few days before telling me that was a few days in La Dorada, a town full pasturelands on the Magdalena River, hot place if is their way to and go to Bogota, was happy to meet her and her sister Maria Helena (two chatty parrots the words of the very Mary Helen), his nephew Juan Felipe and Carolina friends, beautiful people with whom I shared a couple of days but with which I immediately had a lot of affinity. With them went through La Dorada and Honda, the latter being a very important town in what was the liberator of Bolivar, but very little known and promoted for those visiting this country. It is a small town full of history really worth knowing.
Middle
country almost a month had passed, unconsciously he was beginning to feel the trouble and anxiety for crossing to Panama, a kind of fear of the unknown of how to do it, how would the trip after being on the other side of the Darien Gap. In some ways I think this situation will not let me fully enjoy the last few weeks in the coffee country.






Public Library, one of many interventions at the urban level.












Using Naples, formerly owned by Pablo Escobar
.












Embalse de Guatapé.














Piedra de Guatapé.









Trapito, la rojita y la piedra.




























Atardecer en La Dorada.








Here
Maria Helena and Juan Felipe.













Walking through the streets of Honda.

Fotos Y Vídeos Gratis De Culós Grandes

talk about Colombia ...

few months ago since I updated the blog, several months in which many things changed, things went really good and some not. I have no pictures to show, my camera was intent on not work so I recommend any internet search engine to understand better what I am told.

Let us return to where we had left in the last entry ... Ecuador-Colombia border.

Moneychangers ... these if they are a breed apart, people (including cities) to live to change wallpapers in the border areas. In the previous crossings had not seen that particular both literally'll come up with the money in hand shaking, striking with the notes as if they were Locomía, shouting "change, change!" ... In my case was not much to offer, just fifteen dollars and some coins soles came creeping into my backpack from Peru to idea of \u200b\u200bleaving them to the collection, but as the situation is running out ... anyway, I got pod and stick by that and I went to do the same rigmarole a while ago, but this time of entry.

The difference in gas prices between two countries is enormous, on the advice of Juanfer charge me a few cans of gasoline before crossing the border, it had to at least get to Popayan, and that's something these times of scarcity of foreign currency in my wallet, something is more than a lot.

Right there near the border but the Colombian side went to see the Sanctuary of Las Lajas, a neo-Gothic church built in a ravine, with some remnants Romanesque somewhat medieval, with a bridge linking both sides of the barrel vaulted arches, the river below, finally, an implementation simply spectacular, the church itself, in style and detail (especially inside) leaves much much to be desired, even some become unpleasant, but of course, the natural environment supplies all these issues. The bottom of the altar, with the rock of the mountain looming (although I have to say I left in no doubt about the naturalness of this issue) the only thing I found redeeming about the interior.

In the remainder of the day drive to Pasto, my first major city in Colombia, I really did not have much to do there, just spend the night, after finding a station service, for the first time all trip, I was denied more than three times the same day your tent in the parking lot of the stations.

When I found one that accepted me, far away from downtown, suits me, I take a few reds that I was invited by the beach ... clarify doubts and though some are obvious, which is called Tinto black coffee is not this taking the habit of drinking ...

The next stop on my road was Popayán, which had not too much information ... the road from Pasto to this city is paradise itself to do so on a motorcycle, the vastness of the landscape as only in few places I felt the depth of canyons, the sun bathing the mountains, the road constantly ledge, as wonderful as admire it while driving is dangerous, I do not get tragic, but any distraction, no matter how small just might end, you can imagine ...

in Popayán, the white city (I think it should be the fourth or fifth white city in which way), stop with some artisans a little pedestrian, something I sold, at least for the day's expenses and taking into account that my spirit dealer is quite poor, it's going well. In this comparison of Pasto city, at the pump the better, I was invited to dinner, of course, the people's surprise at seeing me with the bike loaded up to stop and listen when I tell them where I come from growing inversely proportional to the distance my place of origin, in Creole, but I am far, but they sound incredible history. Spend two days in Popayan, traveled a little historical center, very nice.

De Cali unfortunately not take the best impression I actually wanted to leave as soon as before the tangle of bikes 2T, they spray the city with their sound and atmosphere petardero so special. Cali is the third largest city, relatively large, late hours (no exaggeration) to reach the center, I never knew which was the central plaza or just "the center", nor the police knew to locate me, partly because it disrupted the traffic, sometimes hamper the metro more than you ordered, in some places causes, for example, that to get from one street to another parallel is less than 100 meters have to do a whole endless loop, resuming, waiting for traffic lights and new ( if not the only miscues right way) you get where you wanted, a mess, and then again turned to suffer the bad directions of police and bystanders, not a bad intention, I believe it is only lack of understanding. The problem is that they explain to me a very rudimentary way, as if I lived right there when my nationality mature falls just hear me say two words, no clutch explain stress as they would anybody else there. Anyway, apart from the chaos of the city itself had to withstand a downpour while trying to locate a tourist office or something that tells me where to grab. And screwed to the edge of town, I was almost running away in search of peace in any village, and was to end in Buga, I remembered that Marcelo (motochileros) had told me there and had stopped in Ibague in the firehouse, which I had not done so, stop all kinds of places but never on fire, was a good time to start. Those days I walked populate, Buga, Cartago, Anserma, in these last two places I spent a weekend of festivities, celebrations such as payments for my lost long ago ... career balineras (carts with wheels bearings) kite competition, a festival where the whole family participates, takes to the streets, sports, and at night the spirit becomes the protagonist in the whole town, the streets of Anserma become a grand ballroom, people in street drinking, dancing, uploaded to your horses or bikes spin around town in a situation as chaotic as funny, even bizarre at times, a lack of control healthy enough if you will.

I was still complicated with Service stations, which in other countries was set to sleep and bathe in Colombia became an odyssey of five gas stations that stop to ask, hopefully, in a me leave, sometimes I think it's confidence but I also do not understand what I try to tell you when I stop, I get the feeling they think I want to stay to live or have a picnic like a campsite, no, build a campfire and get to play the guitar ... I guess they must be unfamiliar and strange to get crazy with the bike all loaded asking putting up a tent for the night.

Pass Pereyra, capital of Risaralda department, full and almost coffee-length followed the next day and was in Manizales, Caldas department, fans remember Xeneizes not very happy the team in this city Once Caldas, who lost Boquita the final of the Libertadores believed won before ... Anyway, this city is something different from other major cities in Colombia, very "falduda" as the Colombian people is that it is a city built on mountains has a particular topography, the climate is generally steady throughout the year ... always cloudy! The week I was there could not be otherwise, it rained almost every day, when it did not rain, it pours. Spend a week in good company at the home of a friend, Erika, her sisters and her mother.

In this area I saw some very good buildings in Guadua, a type of bamboo, is amazing shapes and structures that can be achieved with this material, relatively little used given the abundance and constructive qualities he has. It is clear that no widespread use of these materials has everything to do with the image and the idea that got us and we are getting into the head of what is meant by being socially, the "house of material" (ie cement , brick, etc.) with its many shortcomings, the monopolies of multinational companies (steel, cement), the lack of new universities in terms of new construction systems, imposed on their taste parameter which "should be "a" home " while both are still wasting the benefits (environmental, construction, economic) of materials that offer much more than we imagine.

Moving on, in Manizales GPS he put his hand to that already given up as lost and I did work, though rushed and anxious and want to use it, I finished shitting all, was good while it lasted.

Medellin would be the next stop, but Medallo deserves a separate entry. Salud!

Road Wheels For Canondale Lefty

Ruta del Sol, Quito Ecuador and output ...

The Liberty was my first stop on the Ruta del Sol, but looking at the sky at this time ... the sun, well thanks ... but hot weather is cloudy almost all day, barely touch the water I went to the beaches of Salinas, which is right on the peninsula, is the most tourist this sector of the coast but just walking in the sand, relax and take some photos . I stayed in La Libertad is the commercial and economic the area, home of a great friend, Walter, was more than 15 days, I had almost the whole world there, including elimination, with a mixture of anger and resignation to know about in advance that no could go much further.

Change the back cover that had some holes through which quietly took two dogs fighting, the original hard more than I thought, about 13,000 kms, too hard to be the next manufacturing ... and I went for just Montañitas . I met many artisans who already knew, come to me crossing everywhere. In followed I felt that going to be short my stay on this beach, camping and search Vito finished in a character seems to have left any cartoons with various candies least in the jar, but ultimately a good guy. The location of the camping is incredible, facing the sea, the place where anyone would be, no doubt. I will not have too much detail place especially the bathroom, where bathing was to apply the famous "Tachito System", and the toilet (when not covered) to "Baldazo clean." In the kitchen, or the place where the stove for be more fair, I lack words to describe it, to imagine ... After hearing the recommendations of its own rules and you the owner of the circus, for example, how to get into the sea so you do not take the current (" ?), No Smoking in the output that overlooks the beach because "I can defend here in the (¿¿¿???) and secret word for your dog to not attack you (¿¿¿???¿¿ ¿???¿¿¿???), it was something like "ñañañaña" ... an inexplicable thing for those still keep some sanity, but Well, the guy has his mambo.

four days I stayed there, the only reason was that he had already paid for that time in advance, hillocks is nothing short of Argentine infected, a real pest, pick up a tile and you find a Argentina craftsman doing macramé, Colombian lot too. Anyway, while the third day and was quite embolado , a good time, met some Colombians who are traveling to Buenos Aires on a Vespa (see link traveling on a ...) very cool.

weekend after the World Cup final , I went to Puerto Lopez, is there just 45 km, the atmosphere is different, more familiar, is a good place to see humpback whales at this time, and although I would not just with the idea of \u200b\u200b disturb these poor mammals seemed a good place to spend a few days for a change there I found most Argentines (see link collecting ...). Assemble tent in a hostel at the end of beach, I enjoyed the place and the people I met, I spent three days doing a bit of everything, mostly relaxing, the hammock is the biggest thing there is, (after passion fruit smoothie course) particularly if the waterfront under a coconut palm ... what else?

had already arranged with Alexander to meet in Mompiche in Esmeraldas province, about 500 kms, north of Ecuador, to go see a forest and review a project, if not for that I have the days with the permission of the bike I would have stayed longer in Puerto Lopez and some other interesting places out there close.

I've been almost two months in a country that becomes large as Buenos Aires , more than once and told me that my fate is to end up living in Ecuador. Anything is possible. The truth is I am delighted with this country, every place visit surprises me every person I know and time are recorded live me, nothing go unnoticed in these lands. And it is in other places it has not happened is that I feel like this that is potentially much more.

The stretch of Puerto López to Mompiche, quite long indeed about 500 kilometers, it was quite complicated, not only by the endless amount of curves, too poor or rather nonexistent signaling route, about half an hour before reaching Caraquez Bay, which was where I thought spending the night in one of the many increases were audible noise pretty ugly then I realized that permission of the sensor transmission, knew I could go at any time I was very worn, when I stopped, pieces of string had been a 50 meters behind me, I gather all the wreckage and search the bag that is changing in Cochabamba and had saved for a case like this, caution the guy ... The real problem was that the changes could not go down, it felt as if something had broken inside the box, so if that's really ugly painting , trascarton the sun was down and all I had around were hills ... and the things I'm another must go back to the people who had just passed and see what to do there. After a while move with the jerk that gave me the same slope of the route stop at the only house that had for many miles and got the light of the court to see if it could solve the case, tinkering a little while squeezing the clutch sprocket I could unlock and put it in neutral, I put the old chain to at least reach people. Spend the night at a gas station in San Joaquin, assemble the tent rather late, do not rest very well and I still waiting for some 300 kms. All of this had already warned Germany that my arrival was complicated early on Saturday. The next day as if I needed, the problems continued, the chain that started as soon as I went past the bay, and as if that were not enough nuisance to some 15 kms of flint punctured front wheel question came near the end of four in the afternoon, with all the crack and with a hunger brand Whistle, I met Roy Zambrano, who is responsible for maintaining the land that was going to see is me at home with his family in a tiny town adjacent to Mompiche, called Three-Way, which should not be over 30 or 40 houses. Spend 5 days resting analyzing some questions about the project, feeding coastal style (in any other input will tell a bit like this) and know the area, including Muisne, head of the canton, which is an island 30 kms from three sources, has beautiful beaches, but like the rest of the coast, at this time is covered by a cloud at times only a glimpse of the sky.

came to me this month and with that, inevitably, the expiration of the permit for the bike, temporary importation, so I had to go through Esmeraldas, capital of the province, a port city in which there is customs office where I do processing. I attended the best way, although the issue became a bit long to arrive just in time for lunch ... between waiting, talk, anecdotes and complete paperwork out about 4 pm, I do not have much time left to continue driving so I only did about 100 kms and stop to spend the night in a station Quininde service. A morning in charge of the station invited me a breakfast that looked more like a lunch (and breakfast is on the coast), fried rice with meat, salad and ripe, after staying a while chatting with them and waiting to stop the rain, I was accompanied by at times since I left three-way left with way to Quito ... to the mountains again.

few days ago that it came with money problems, among which I have almost no cash and the cashier gives me what is left when you win, you get to the capital with just a few dollars anything available in the blessed device. In a moment of lucidity splendid , say almost transcendental remembered that my old 400 I had to deposit Argentine handles (about $ 100 ), remember it was like seeing the light, being born again ... good for was not much, but if it was a relief to the touch so I communicate online with my sister to you remember, but rather to our parent ordered to send me as that precious Billeton. With that, of course discounting as usual so often rob the bank for each move, pull a few days, outings with friends and beers including Quito, Guayaquil and Colombia. I spend a week at Angel, then take the opportunity to fix my computer that came intoxicated by a good amount of virus (as is the plural of virus?) And some other thingy work. I have nothing much to tell of Quito, not to show, my camera stopped working in three ways, in terms the city and its history, which is no small, Google can do better than me no doubt. At the time I left I was almost in bankruptcy new Ibarra reached where I was waiting Juanfer, another crazy rather than short will be touring the South American routes. With him and his family went to walk around Ibarra, Cotacachi , Lake Cuicocha Peguche cascade, Otavalo (where as not to lose the habit I found, this time through chance, with Ale).

I could not miss the picture on half the world, the day passes going for pure Ibarra anger for not having my camera kept long, as doing account that he had not seen. Ibarra and lent me his Juanfer so happy as new toy boy I went there ... take pictures, therefore I am.

The issue is that this milestone is the least known of the two that are on the outskirts of Quito, the most famous is in town is rightly called Mitad del Mundo and is super tourist , go out there before going to Quito and had that touch printing, to be compared to a mirage, something armed too, I moved nothing and went on tour, after talking with Angel and later with Juanfer both told me that this park (so he says) was built to commemorate the geographers and French researchers were the first who came to Ecuador to discuss some issues concerning the equator, the point is that the position milestone, which is a very important lookout tower that marks the four corners and clear the line 0 ° 0'0 ''latitude, not just on this imaginary line but it is "gotcha" about 250 meters ... too much for these times in which technological precision grips us, either with your phone with GPS could check ... well, like most people (read tourists) love to sell you smoke, mailboxes and snake oil, this park is always full of people , while the other (the Cayambe, closer to Ibarra, who mentioned at the beginning) that is only a diversion of a millimeter and is also a sundial barely visiting some people, I found the talk interesting addition to giving you right there, in charge of this place not only try claim it as the true middle of park world but will also drive a new view of what the earth map, geographically speaking, where the up and down disappear for what really should be orient west, south, north ... is an explanation a bit long, anyone can look on the internet.

week happens in Ibarra, resting, eating food from home, family atmosphere helped me a lot to recharge in every way, especially in the spirit, came from a few days little melancholy, I felt I was missing too much of my affections, who had been too time and still am not even a quarter of a trip, that sort of thing would not stop giving me around in my head. Sali to the border with all the energy, clear that mixed with some sadness the farewell, but Juanfer I did see the positive side, it is precisely continue the journey to meet new places new people, new roads and for that matter.

himself accompanied me a few kms out de Ibarra, was having some electrical problems in bike so decided to make less than you had thought. The output of city is beautiful, the route leaves some surrounding mountains then appear before about valleys and gorges that seem drawn . The weather was changing as I walked away, was growing hot again, at least for a while ...

Later I hoped Colombia, unlike Ecuador, is more loaded expectations beforehand, e qu beyond me, and have more to do with many people who me crossing the road and I heard about it "chimba" who is this country.

As for the border, no one had good night man who treated me in the Ecuadorian Customs , just to give you two permits the bike (the original and extended ) immediately began to grumble that "because it respected the original permit, "that" now you have to pay the fine "that" it does not help matters and ask for a one-time permit "and I, as a type of the most there may be quiet, peaceful, measured, but when the aggression comes and free, out of nowhere, I skip the heat immediately, crazy as I get says Ramírez old, you stop the car ... plus bad humor I had this person so afflicted him and his office mate a good dose of inability to do their work, both in the end I had to tell myself the procedure for record output in the Rojita system (not that I am more suited for the task they if not the day I made the ruling of the extending in Esmeraldas, the person who attended showed me how to input data the return of my entering the country at the time, by Huaquillas) issue I had here a long time, if not, that "they gave you bad permission, "which" is not valid "was very funny see the two fingers counting the days on the calendar to see if he was OK the permit fumble beans Dumb and Dumber ... fall short compared to these two characters ... at that point not know whether to laugh or mourn, the end and the problem solved I put my best face of cordiality, greet and went, we vemo in corso.

Cuicocha.

Cuicocha.

bearded rag Profile with the cascade of Peguche
background.

Peguche Waterfall.