Only Premium Cattle Class from Madrid to Bogota- it should be Business Class for us
Click on a thumbnail to get larger photo
 |
 |
 |
| First up is Bogota and a tour of the (hopefully) ex-battle zone | The lads seem to have used spray paint liberally everywhere | We went to this museum where they have made floor tiles ,, |
 |
 |
 |
| ..from melting down the guns used in the Civil War | After the tour, the nice guide took us to lunch | We posed for a photo sitting beside the "Do not sit here" sign |
Then as flight south to the Tatacoa Desert
Click on a thumbnail to get larger photo
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Thank goodness Pembroke did not have to sit on the cactus | Family photo for the album | Yes, looks like the Red Desert | We get so hot that we need to stop for a drink |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Cactus everywhere | We then hit the Grey Desert, even hotter and more deserty | Looks pretty bleak down here | So how did the green leaves get here? You said it was a desert |
San Agustin had a really poncy hotel, where we built ourselves up with extra buns, before tacking the pile of Old Stones down the road
Click on a thumbnail to get larger photo
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Nice room ! | Nice hotel called The Old Monastery | They set you up for the day with a decent breakfast | Then we found this nifty little car to get around the hotel |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Now the bit we have been dreading - the old stones | These were old stones on an industrial scale, they went on and on | Happily a juice break half way round, and a slice of cake helped | Before more old stones |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Next day, would you believe it, mile after mile of .. | ..old stones | ..more old stones. | ..and even more old stones, and no cafe either. |
 |
 |
 |
|
| So we decide to leave San Agustin .. | ..and head north to Popayan | ..we enjoyed not seeing any old stones |
Click on a thumbnail to get larger photo
 |
 |
 |
 |
| We install ourselves in a town centre hotel | Go for a tour of Popayan with the Madre | See what suspiciously looks like old stones | And round it off with a snack and a drink |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| She would not let us ride on the rocking horse | But we got by on Breakfast .. | ...Dinner... | ...and afternoon tea... |
Peireira
Click on a thumbnail to get larger photo
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Another really poncy hotel. | ..feel the quality | ..and they did a decent breakfast | ..but we were roped in for lifeguard duty |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| and a late night drink with the Padre | Next day a Coffee Farm tour. Not much food here .. | .. but an awful lot of coffee. | Pembroke helped with the roasting |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| And the next day, a visit to Cocora, a small bears playground | Posing on the Willy's Jeep | And on the Cocora sign (we are in the middle of the "O") | And here we are chancing our luck with the eagle |
Salimina
Click on a thumbnail to get larger photo
 |
 |
 |
 |
| A small hilltop town where we .. | ..stayed i a fairly basic, but very acceptable, hotel | ..looking from our room over the central town square. | We found a bun shop right next door |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| And this is breakfast | The tour was in a red jeep, which on paper looked fun. | But it belched out diesel fumes, so the madre looked a bit glum | This was the top .. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| ..where we had a play on the swing. | but the price to pay was a forced march for miles and miles .. | ..over rivers and up hills | ..which we had to do before she would give us lunch |
Medellin. A few years ago the murder capital of the world.
Click on a thumbnail to get larger photo
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Yet another poncy hotel, but without any service | Pleasant breakfast on the terrace | And we relax before hitting down town Medellin .. | ..where they had a whole square full of these things |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| We climbed to city hall .. | ..and had a ride in a cable car. Very exciting to be carried .. | ..over the roof tops of Medellin, in order to reach Comuna 13, | where there was murder on an industrial scale until the truce |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| ..they even sell Teddy Bear t-shirts now | .. and sort of fruit ice lollys | Next day to a flower farm, where the owner had a cheesy smile. | They take their flowers very seriously here |
Then off to the airport and two flights to get us to Quito
