With my 30th post, I am opening the last chapter in Colombia! After almost freezing continuously in Peru and Bolivia during the past German summer, the past 2 months have been the hottest of my life - and that in the German winter. So, it all evens out. In Colombia, this was especially true along the Caribbean coast, but also in cities like Cali and Medellín, as well as in the flat and mountainous interior, the only constant was the heat. Only Bogotá provided a bit of cooling at night. But first, I headed to the vastness of the Llanos - to Villavicencio. This is the area east of the Andes and known primarily for its huge green areas with a lot of livestock and oil industry. It is also extremely hot there all year round. Sometimes with rain and sometimes without. I was there, of course, during the even hotter dry season. One day out in the countryside, another to a river, a horseback riding excursion, and a shopping tour in the numerous air-conditioned malls. That was my program for the days in Villavicencio.
Short walk in the green with a view of Villavicencio and the vastness of the Llanos. This sign doesn't really need a translation. 💩😂 But it gets straight to the point. Keep the environment clean! Relaxation in the countryside. Welcome refreshment and beautiful views in the heat. And also a classic from South America. The throwing game called rana - frog. Not so easy to achieve the highest score. The goal is to hit the mouths with heavy coins. And when you're in the countryside, you can also go on a horseback riding excursion. I think that was the first time I sat on a horse. 😅 But then of course, all the way. Up to the shoulders in the water. And across the prairie. After the horseback ride, there was a hearty meal served on a banana leaf. Here too, there was crystal clear refreshing water. In the rainy season, the water flows much higher here and brings new rocks. And these fish really liked nibbling on the feet. Free spa. And fresh from the ranch, finally a proper steak again. Potatoes in salt and yucca were more like decoration than side dishes. And that's how they party in the Llanos. A big bottle of sugar cane schnapps - Aguardiente - with a small bottle of water, lots of ice, and a few limes and oranges. No one needs beer, fancy cocktails, or long drinks. Also has the best value for money. The shopping centers invited with beautiful gardens and good cooling for relaxation. Here I was with Fidelia, the mother of a friend from Germany. Of course, we went to a steakhouse first. 😋And then continue to explore the area. From the top, you always have the best view - from the edge of the Andes. And then there's just nothing but hot flatland.
Bogotá
In Bogotá, we also went up high first. When I arrived, the view was still great. But when I was up on Montserrate, it was a bit hazy again.But the ride in the cable car on the historic route was worth the trip.
There's not much to say about Bogotá, the capital of Colombia. It is a huge metropolis, with a lot of history, many museums, a few pretty squares, good cafes, and restaurants. But other than that, it's the usual chaotic, noisy picture of a big city. The weather was very pleasant. Not as hot as in Villavicencio, but not as cold as in the other Andean cities at such altitudes. So, I limited myself to the usual tourist program, visited some museums, strolled through the Calendaria neighborhood, went up to Mount Montserrate, explored numerous cafes, and worked on my blog. I also found myself in front of several closed parks, museums, and facilities.
The Gold Museum was truly impressive and exhibited an incredible number of pieces from past centuries. You can really imagine how the rulers were adorned back then. Incredibly artistic, delicate, and detailed works. The room was somewhat special. The individual pieces weren't necessarily extraordinary, but the arrangement was. And there were still a few figures from the San Augustin area to see. The Emerald Museum is located on the 11th floor. The history of Colombia's emeralds was also very interesting and complex. And it offered similar treasures to the Gold Museum. Just not with as much history. Unfortunately, you couldn't take photos there. But the view was even better. On the left side, you can see Mount Montserrate. The Botero Museum was rather a collection of museums. Exhibitions about the country's banknotes, famous artists like Botero and Picasso, and modern art were all included. The huge Plaza Bolívar, on the other hand, was much more magnificent - Palacio de la Justicia. Here's Coliseo Nacional. And the cathedral. And in panorama. The guards with sun protection in front of the Casa de Nariño - the presidential palace. The biggest popular and pub sport in Colombia. With a kind of heavy iron puck called tejo, you throw it at a clay plate. It contains an iron ring with white bags of gunpowder glued to its edges. If you hit the bags correctly, it makes a loud noise in these halls. And accordingly, there are still points, and the loser pays for the beers. Something like that... And you could also indulge in culinary delights in Bogotá. Whatever it was, it tasted really good. Otherwise, I wouldn't have taken a photo of it. 😉 And there was also plenty of coffee and cake. The cafés also didn't skimp on graffiti.
And a few words about the Colombian people. They live basically according to the motto - the main thing is to be loud! It doesn't matter what the situation is, if possible, they shout. Normal conversations hardly take place in public spaces. And if they do, they are fast and chaotic, so that you don't understand anything because then they can repeat everything even louder. That's the jackpot. But even if you understand them, you have to be careful with the information. Often enough, they just tell you something about places you should visit and how to get there, and it turns out to be completely wrong. Again, the principle of '2 people, 3 opinions'. Despite all of this, they are always in a good mood and happy - even the taxi drivers! I think this was the first country where this also applied to this population group. And with the loud music, there is of course always a lot of partying and beer everywhere. The bars are at least as crowded as the churches the next day. The good mood should not disguise the fact that most people here are not doing well economically and almost everyone carries their personal baggage from the many past years of war. Maybe that's why there wasn't much interest in talking about these issues or engaging with history. If these conflicts are almost omnipresent anyway, maybe you don't want to deal with them even more in your 'free time'. Maybe it's all still too fresh. And with these impressions, I now head back to Ecuador, specifically to the Galapagos Islands - a completely different world.
