10.-14.06. - Manizales, Colombia

On 10.06., Hans flew from Bogotá to Medellín. Since we already knew Medellín, we spontaneously took a bus (10 h for 360 km) and went to Manizales. The ride was... well. It went from 2600 m (altitude of Bogotá) to about 200 m altitude, then up to 1600 m, down to almost 0 m, then up to a pass at 3400 m altitude and finally to Manizales, which is at 2100 m. That's a total of about 10,000 hm (altitude meters). Our bus driver seemed to be a race car driver in his previous life and drove like crazy, although there was a several hundred meter deep abyss next to us almost constantly.

Manizales has only about 400,000 inhabitants and is located in one of Colombia's main coffee regions. The city and especially the surrounding area are beautiful. On the day after our arrival, we visited the city. Although it was Sunday, there was a large market - fruit, vegetables, meat, and tons of stolen goods ('used' cell phones, cell phones already in the case and with all the important apps installed, tools, clothes, etc.) were sold. We bought about 2 kg of bananas and 5 large mandarins for a little more than one euro. In the afternoon, we had planned a coffee tour. The plantation is located a few kilometers outside the city - you have to find your way there if you don't know which buses to take and if there are no bus schedules. But we are experienced and arrived at the meeting point on time. After about half an hour of waiting, our guide arrived and we went to the plantation. Unplanned, we received a private tour that lasted about two hours and learned a lot about the production of good (and not so good) Colombian coffee. It was incredibly interesting and well worth it.

The next day, we went back to the city and visited the highest cathedral in Colombia, which is 106 m high. From there, you have a nice view of the city. After another city tour, we went to the 'Termales Tierra Viva', which are hot and very sulfuric thermal springs.

On June 13, we unfortunately had to go back to Medellín. The journey was supposed to take 4 hours and 40 minutes, but as it often happens, it took us about 6 hours. The next morning, we visited Parque Arví in the morning. Caro and I wanted to go there and Hans also had it on his list. The trip was incredibly worth it. It only cost 25,000 COP (5.50 €) for admission (including cable car ride) and there is nothing to see up there except for a very beautiful forest and nature. Really nothing. We went back down, had a little something to eat, and then boarded the plane to Cartagena de Indias. The flight took 45 minutes and we were very glad not to have taken the bus (which would have taken about 20 hours). Cartagena is located on the coast and here it is mostly over 30 °C (felt even over 40 °C) and the humidity is over 90%. Exactly our weather...

By the way, it could be that our stay in Colombia will be extended beyond June 23. We have received an inquiry and are supposed to become English teachers at a school... We'll see what happens.