Tag 156: Salento, Colombia

Today is Sunday, a rainy day. We are sitting in the car, our host is driving us to the bus terminal in Cali. Six days ago, we returned from the jungle to our hostel in Quito. Completely exhausted, drained from the long journey and the last four days in the jungle, we fell straight into bed. We slept well, but not for very long. Because the next day, the journey continued. At 5 o'clock in the morning, we set off with our new travel companion Lutz to Colombia. It wasn't easy. After an unexpectedly tiring day, we arrived at our hostel in Popayán in the middle of the night and left Ecuador behind us.

Compared to the other countries in South America, Ecuador is relatively small and therefore good for traveling. The coast offers very beautiful beaches, small fishing villages, and lots of nature. Good and cheap food and a very relaxed atmosphere. However, especially on the coast, it is not completely safe. The locals are very poor. They have lost a lot due to several natural disasters. We encountered many incredibly unfriendly vendors, but also many helpful people. We made some friends and absolutely enjoyed the time. However, the best thing we experienced in Ecuador was the unforgettable four-day trip to the Amazon.

In Popayán, there is not much to do. We let Colombia affect us, ate traditional food and explored the city. Then we continued. Still in the company of Lutz. Through Couchsurfing, the three of us secured accommodation in Cali. The apartment is the most colorful and craziest I have ever seen. We spent three days here. We say goodbye and thank you to our host and take the bus to Salento. We arrive in a small village in the mountains, the view mainly offers green on the left and right. It is very beautiful and peaceful. Of course, our hostel is the last one at the end of the road. We arrive at a kind of farm. An old house, old furniture, old beds. We look past the stone-hard beds and enjoy the tranquility, the company of the animals, and the beautiful view. It is pouring rain. Nevertheless, in the evening, we still go out. We want to see more. We stroll through the colorful streets until we reach the market square. We climb the many stairs to the highest point of the city and enjoy the view of the sea of lights. Actually, we don't have much planned and want to make our way back to the hostel soon, but in one of the many souvenir shops, we meet Tom and Jackie, two Australians we met in the jungle. They tell us about a place where you can play 'Tejo'. We don't really know what we're getting into, but we just go. Lutz and I arm ourselves with two beers and enter the large hall. Locals in the back row throw hand-sized stones across the room into a small box filled with clay. We will do the same now. For safety reasons, however, with a shorter distance to the box. We start to understand the game and get better and better. Sabrina watches us, throws a few times, and is responsible for the photos today. We have a nice evening together. Tomorrow, our paths will separate again for now.