Bogota the other days

Saturday morning January 31, 2009 - it is cloudy and a few rain drops we are on the way to the Gold Museum and the place to get chocolate and cheese (Ari´s recommendations) Florida Cafe. Also looking for a bus to go South so will make a stop at the bus depot, a very busy place.
At this time Helmut is re packing his backpack, could not find anything and discovered more strings, snaps and compartments. Suggestion: open the backpack before you use it and try all compartments
don´t just pack it!
Dinner time is difficult, many places serve big Lunch and close at 4:00PM.
Our hotel is very close to a large University, just like in the States there is a lot of drinking going on here and many places live of the students.
More about Saturday -went to the Gold Museum (great place).

The city center on Saturday.

Had a snack at Cafe Florida Cake (like Pulla) with cheese and hot chocolate (Ari´s recommendation). Picture below.

Then we had a great Colombian meal - Ajiaco Santafereno a soup with 3 types of potato's, chicken and much more (see picture below) at the restaurant La Pola (a Lonely Planet recommendation) was right next to our Hotel.

The soup!

The restaurant owner and several friends (one German) invited us to their table and we had a
lot to drink, we were the last ones in the restaurant (5:30PM) closing time. Picture below.

Sunday morning we will take a bus and be on the way to Melgar, Southern Colombia about a 5 Hour bus ride.

Bogota - the first days in Colombia

January 29, arrived 9:45 PM in Bogota nice Taxi drive with no hussle from driver.
Clean looking city on way to hotel and when walking in evening.
Clean hotel, but noisy at night so need ear plugs.
Wether is good around 60 F not raining. Will walk and explore the town Friday.
Friday - walked the town, Botero Museum, plazas and streets also up to the highest point in Bogota with the cable car (picture Meinhard).
On top of Monserrate the highest point in Bogota 3,600 meters (about).

It is a busy city, 8.2 million people?

Ready to leave - the night before!

In the morning with the local METRA train to the airport and then Delta over Atlanta to Bogota.
Will meet Helmut at the Hotel for a drink or two or three.

One backpack and one small daypack (that can be attached to the backpack), never traveled this light and there is still space left. The clothing on the bed is what I wear on the way. Backpack has handles to carry and also straps to carry on back. It is a 92 ltr or about 6,000 cu. in. Eagle Creek Grand Voyager fro REI.

Backpacks - Yes NO suitcases!

Meinhard's backpack.

Helmut's new backpack for this trip.

Countdown to Bogota Colombia

January 29, 2009 is the day we meet in Bogota - Helmut leaving the night before from Lake Alfred making it by train to Miami to board a plane for Bogota and arriving around Noon in Bogota.Meinhard is leaving by communter train from Grayslake, Il to O"Hare airport to board a Delta flight at 11:00AM to fly to Bogota, over Atlanta, arriving in Bogota 9:45PM. Reservations have beeen made at the Platypus Hotel  http://www.platypusbogota.com 

   or   http://www.casaplatypus.com/index.html.

Pictures:

A preliminary list of places and hostels

City	Stay	Web Address
Bogota	Platypus	www.platypusbogota.com/
	(57-1) 341.3104	Calle 16 No. 2-43, Bogota, Colombia
Popayan	Hostel Trail	www.hosteltrail.com/guesthouse
	2 831 7871	Carrera 11 No. 4-16 Popayan
San Augustin	El Jardin	www.hosteltrail.com/eljardin
	8 837 3455	Carrera 11 No. 4-10  San Agustin
Pasto	Koala Inn	www.hosteltrail.com/koalainn/
		Calle 18 No. 22-37 Pasto
Cali	Iguana (Suisse)	www.iguana.com.co
	032 6613522	Avenida 9N No. 22N-46
Salento	Plantation House	www.theplantationhousesalento.com
	315 409 7039	Alto del Coronel Calle 7 No. 1-04
Pereira	Finca Villa Maria	Carrera 13 No 14-60 Local 109 Centro Comercial
	(6) 3349883 - 3349916	Marbella / Pereira
Manizales	Mountain House	www.mountainhousemanizales.com
	00 57 (6) 887 4736	Calle 65 No 24-97 Avenida Lindsay Barrio Guayacones
Medillin	Casa Mayde	www.hosteltrail.com/casamayde/
	034 312 1248	Calle 10 37-39  Poblado  Medellin
Medillin	Black Sheep Hostel	www.blacksheepmedellin.com
		Transversal 5a No. 45-133 Barrio Patio Bonito
Cartagena	Hostal Real	www.hosteltrail.com/hostalreal
	5 664 7866	Calle De La Magdalena No. 9-33  Cartagena
Baranquilla
Santa Marta	Casa Familiar	www.hosteltrail.com/casafamiliar
	5421 1697	Calle 10c No. 2 - 14  Santa Marta
Taganga	La Casa de Felipe
	Casa Blanca	www.hosteltrail.com/casablanca
Bucaramanga	Hotel Las Nieves	www.hosteltrail.com/hotellasnieves
	7 681 0144	Calle 30 No. 25-71 Girón
San Gil	Macondo Guesthouse	www.macondohostel.com
	311 8282 905	Calle 12 No. 7-26, San Gil
Mompox	La Casa Amarilla	www.lacasaamarillamompos.com/
		Cra1 #13-59 La Albarrada con Santa Barbara Mompos
Bogota	Platypus	www.platypusbogota.com/
	(57-1) 341.3104	Calle 16 No. 2-43, Bogota, Colombia

1967 - The last day in Colombia and on the way to the USA

Planning - Colombia for One Month Trip

It all started with ideas about re-visiting South America as we did in 1967 when we traveled from South Africa through South America to the United States.

A Rough itinerary was developed by Helmut December 2008:

1.	Arrive in Bogota. Stay a couple days to look city over. Can do more upon return after trip's conclusion.
2.	Head South to Popayan, Purace National Park, San Augustin, boat rafting, etc.)
3.	Further South, Pasto and its surroundings (including Volcan Azufral, most picturesque lake in Colombia: Laguna de la cocha, West of Pasto: Tomaco (on Pacific)
4.	Fly round trip from Pasto to Leticia/Amazon. (visit various tribes by boat, etc.)
5.	Upon return to Pasto, head North, to Cali. Spend a couple days visiting Rocio’s relatives. My cousin Politico will show us around, I am sure).
6.	Head further North to Manizales, glaciers, thermo springs)
7.	Next Northern stop Medellin, explore finca Villa Maria.
8.	Next Caribbean, through Cartagena, Barranquilla, and Santa Marta. Stay a few days around Taganga, a fisher village north of Santa Marta at the Caribbean).
9.	Finally, heading South toward Bogota: Stops at Bucaramanga (huge paragliding area - not that I want to try, or perhaps yes??), San Gil (nearby Barichara is regarded as the most beautiful colonial town in Colombia).
10.	Of course this is a very loose itinerary: We can improvise as we go along…I am sure Ari can provide some more suggestions.