![screenshot_01](/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/screenshot_01.png)

**Note: This is a condensed version of the pictures I took with some added narrative. The rest of the pics can be viewed in the album [The Trip 2013 - Bucaramanga to Montanita](https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151953673181031&type=1&l=3d7354c7cc). Each picture can be clicked to see a larger version and comment / like.**

Its been a while since my last update, since then I have crossed into Ecuador from Colombia and traveled hundreds of miles. After my two weeks spent learning to Paraglide in Bucaramanga I was keen to get back on the road again, I had less than a week to make my way over to the coast of Ecuador where I had booked some Kite Surfing lessons.



It would have taken some 50-60 hours if I was to attempt to make the journey in one go so I broke it up with a few stops. First up was a return to the capital city of Colombia, Bogota.

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On the way there I experienced the first motor accident on my travels:

[![photo](/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/photo.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151953645596031&set=a.10151953673181031&type=3&theater)

The bus only clipped the front of the taxi so it wasnt too bad. Im just surprised I havent been in more considering how mental some of the bus and taxi drivers drive over here.

The second time around in Bogota I managed to do all the things I didnt first time round such as visiting the museum of gold and El Monserat on top of the hill.

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After Bogota it was a long 15 hour bus journey to Popayan where I had a brief one day stop just enough time to check out some of the wildlife.

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Then it was back on the road again this time it was 8 hours to the border town of Ipiales. I decided to stay the night here rather than brave the 5+ hours it would take me to get to Quito (Ecuador) from here. It helps that I made some frends with an awesome Swiss & German couple on the bus.

[![photo-17](/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/photo-17.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151953652616031&set=a.10151953673181031&type=3&theater)

Before making the border crossing the following day we made a quick stop off at a famous church that lives in an impressive valley between the hills.

[![photo-14](/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/photo-14.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151953650461031&set=a.10151953673181031&type=3&theater)

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After another 5 or 6 hours of bussing I was finally at Quito, only briefly however as I left early the following morning for my destination at the coast, Manta.

[![photo-23](/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/photo-23.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151953654681031&set=a.10151953673181031&type=3&theater)

Over a month ago my SCUBA diving instructor Alejandra told me about a kite surfing school in Ecuador (her home country) called Ocean Freaks, I was keen to give kite surfing a go so I looked them up and signed myself up.

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I spent the first day on the beach learning how to control the awesomely powerful kite which was a whole bunch harder to control than anything I had attempted before. Just trying to keep the thing in the air was tricky but by the second day I was in the water with the board which added a whole bunch more complications.

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By the fourth day I thought I was starting to get the hang of it, I wasnt quite surfing yet but I was standing up for a few seconds at a time, not bad I thought considering. Big thanks to my awesome German instructor Lucias

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After that short 4 days at the coast I made my way back to Quito where I was due to meet Kelsie who was flying in from Austrailia. I had met her her LA many months ago when I started my central american adventure with Trek America. We had travelled together all through Central America together before she was forced to return home to Austrailia. We travelled well together and I really enjoyed her company so I was really excited to have her back again.

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We had three days in Quito before moving on. We spent it both catching up and seeing the sights. One of the highlights was catching the cable car up to the mountains that overlook the city.

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Quito is one of the highest cities in South America at 2800m, the cable car ride added a further 1300m ontop of that. The plan was to hike up the final 500m on foot however at that altitude you really have to work hard. Take 10 steps up a light hill and you are huffing and puffing like its the first time you have ever put one foot in front of the other. After just 150m or so we decided to call it quits and just sit down and admire the views instead.

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After Quito we took another long bus journey over to the beautiful mountain town of Banos.

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Nestled in the vally of several large hills the smallish town is really rather scenic.

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I took the opportunity while here to do some rock climbing. I havent done any in ages (excluding the climbing wall in Bogota) and forgot how much hard work it was on the forearms.

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I only managed a few climbs to the top of what our guide considered 'easy' runs before my arms gave up on me.

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On the final day we hired a couple of bikes and took a very scenic 20km trip down the valley.

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All along the way there were ziplining stations and cable cars that took people across. The views were pretty spectacular.

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The next and final destination for this leg of my trip was the famous surfing town of Montanita.

[![photo-75](/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/photo-75.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151953663261031&set=a.10151953673181031&type=3&theater)

We spent the 4 days there chilling out and enjoying the town. I spent one day falling off my surf board before switching to body board to mix things up a bit.

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As it was out of season the weather wasnt particularly great most of the time but for the last day we were blessed with sun.

[![photo-79](/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/photo-79.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151953663681031&set=a.10151953673181031&type=3&theater)

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Despite the poor weather most of the time I had a great time in Montanita but as usual I was eager to get moving onto out next desination of Puerto Lopez.

[![photo-84](/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/photo-84.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151953664366031&set=a.10151953673181031&type=3&theater)

**Note: This is a condensed version of the pictures I took with some added narrative. The rest of the pics can be viewed in the album [The Trip 2013 - Tyrona to Bucaramanga](https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151899189516031.1073741847.593661030&type=1&l=807a813e7f). Each picture can be clicked to see a larger version and comment / like.**



![screenshot_01](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/screenshot_011.png)

Continuing on my adventures on the northern coast of Colombia I left Taganga and made my way across to the incredibly picturesque Tyrona National Park.

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I spent one night there with a pair of excellent Irish girls, Lizzy and Leesha

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We slept in hammocks down near the beach. I had never slept in a hammock before and so it was a novel experience. It wasn't as bad as I was expecting but I don't think I could do a long stay in one.

The site we stayed at was called Arrecifes and was rather quiet though it did have a number of animals wandering around.

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The main reason for us being there was check out the incredible beaches. Unfortunately we couldn't swim in the sea near our hammocks due to very strong currents in the water..

[![photo-7](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-712.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151899202116031&set=a.10151899189516031.1073741847.593661030&type=3&theater)

.. so we were forced to walk 20-40 minutes to the other beaches. The main beach El Cabo was rather special:

[![photo-17](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-172.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151899208651031&set=a.10151899189516031.1073741847.593661030&type=3&theater)

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I was only in Tyrona for a day as I had to return to start my two day Free Diving course.

[![photo-22](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-222.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151899209826031&set=a.10151899189516031.1073741847.593661030&type=3&theater)

I had only recently learnt about the sport of free diving from my two roommates in Taganga, Lisa and Alex. They were avid free divers and their passion inspired me to give it a go.

The sport is split up into various disciplines, some as the name implies involve diving down deep on a single breath others such as 'Static Abnea' involve training yourself to hold your breath for as long as you can in a confined water space like a swimming pool.

My instructor was a guy called Carlos who holds a national record in one of the deep diving disciplines. He was a really cool guy and excellent instructor. With his tutorage I was able to up my breath hold personal best of 1 minute 30 up to 3 minutes and 13 seconds which really astounded me.

In the afternoon we hopped into a boat and headed out into the bay of Taganga for some deep diving. My goal was to reach the maximum depth possible for free diving beginners of 20 meters which is deeper than I was diving when I was SCUBA diving. It took several attempts of progressively working my way up (down?) to that depth but eventually I made it!

[![DCIM117GOPRO](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-232.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151899209791031&set=a.10151899189516031.1073741847.593661030&type=3&theater)

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Unfortunately soon after that I started having ear and sinus problems forcing me to quit for the day but still I had a great time and great introduction to the fascinating sport.

[![DCIM117GOPRO](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-252.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151899210406031&set=a.10151899189516031.1073741847.593661030&type=3&theater)

After so many weeks at the coast in the baking heat I was ready for a change so I decided to head up to the slightly higher elevations of Minca one hour outside of Santa Marta on the coast. I stayed at the rather excellent Casa Loma:

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The hostel was perched on the side of the hill several hundred meters above the town itself. To get to it you had to climb up far too many steps. With your big heavy pack on your back and small but not light day pack on your font it was a real slog getting up there but it was all worth it when I saw the views.

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The first night there I met a couple of excellent french girls called Angele and Julia, we agreed to meet up the following day and head down and check out 'Las Cascades' a series of waterfalls deep in the jungle.

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The walk there was interesting but on the way back it started to rain rather hard. We sook refuge in a restaurant for lunch, unfortunately it seemed like the rain was a little harder than anyone had expected as we were forced to move due to the restaurant flooding.

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Evenings were spent gorging on the excellent food produced by the hostel's chef Carlos, playing games and drinking copious quantities of Aguila

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Minca for me was an unexpected high point on my trip, and I was sad when I had to leave after just two days.

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But sadly all good things come to an end. I made my way down from Minca then caught a bus back to the coastal town of Cartagena. I loved Cartagena when I was there two weeks previous so was excited to be going back. This time I was travelling with a pair of awesome Germans, Ann Kathrin and Katharina.

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I introduced them to my other German friend Anna (another Ann Kathrin whom I had originally met in Panama and then met up again with last time I was in Cartagena) and Josh (who I had first met in Medellin). We met up in the German / Colombian cultural exchange school then went for some beers in the square.

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I was due to catch a bus to Bucaramanga after two days but due to protests in Colombia which halted the long distance buses I was forced (a real hardship) to stay another night. Annka and Katrina were kind enough to let me stay with them at the beautiful Media luna, thanks guys!

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After spending a few hours burning in the sun at the hostel I made my way to the bus station and caught a 12 hour bus journey to Bucaramanga.

Every time I take a taxi in Colombia I say a quiet word of prayer that I will make it to the destination in one piece. Its not just the drivers' crazy disregard for general traffic rules and a penchance for driving close to the speed of sound its the other people on the road that worry me.

On this journey alone I saw a boy crossing a busy duel carriageway while playing keepy-uppy with a football, a guy on the back of a motorbike almost loose an arm to a passing bus as he wildly gesticulated / danced and a car completely packed to the roof with bowling balls.

Anyways, I made it to Bucaramanga in one piece I assume by pure luck ready to start my two week Paragliding course.

[![photo-79](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-792.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151899245321031&set=a.10151899189516031.1073741847.593661030&type=3&theater)

Before I left England I knew that one of the things I wanted to do on this trip was to learn to fly, either Hanglide or Paraglide. So when I saw a poster in the hostel in Taganga "Learn to Fly in Bucaramanga" I immediately signed myself up. And im incredibly glad that I did.

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<iframe width="640" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/NvGD4ylYuZo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

It was hard work and a steep learning curve but totally worth it. When I had my first 30 minute flight after 6-7 days I was on cloud-9\. Using your knowledge and skills to keep yourself in the air is such an exhilarating feeling. Never mind the stunning views that the fly site "Las Aguilas" offers over the city.

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Over the course of the 14 days I only had one accident. I was attempting to take off in very low to no winds, never a good idea at the best of times. I ran ran ran, hit the edge of the cliff and went over the edge, my legs were in the air but I still wasnt gaining much height when suddenly I hit the ground again with my feet, I slide for a little while until im brought to a rather abrupt stop thanks to my side cracking into a tree stump and the wing crashing into a bush.

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The crash put a dent in my confidence for a while but I got straight back up and did it right this time, remembering to put a small amount of break pressure when taking off in no wind to clear the bushes. In total I flew 25 flights at Las Aguilas with a total air time of about 4 hours.

One of the best flights I did was a 1 hour "Ridge Soar" which is where you stay near the ridge of a hill catching the wind as it is forced up the slope, creating lift. I had enough altitude that I was able to ride it cross country around the top of the mesa passing an inedible waterfall then around until I reached a separate landing site. I was able to fly around performing figure of 8's for half an hour before making my way back for a safe landing.

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The final day of flying for me saw us all taking a field trip to "The Canyon" at Chicamonca, the second largest canyon in the world (after the grand canyon).

[![photo-104](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-1041.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151899252171031&set=a.10151899189516031.1073741847.593661030&type=3&theater)

I was really nervous about flying here. This would be the first time I have taken off anywhere other than at the school site in Las Aguilas. The views were stunning but we were so high that when we were discussing the landing I had no real clue where it was we supposed to be aiming for.

[![photo-106](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-1061.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151899252596031&set=a.10151899189516031.1073741847.593661030&type=3&theater)

Well finally it was my turn, I managed to run the short distance to the edge of the cliff before launching myself over the side. Then that was it, I was airborne!

[![photo-108](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-1081.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151899252946031&set=a.10151899189516031.1073741847.593661030&type=3&theater)

The ride of the canyon was spectacular. The thermals coming up from the valley were so strong they allowed me to ride hundreds of meters above everything. The view from up there was just phenomenal and the few pictures and video I was only just brave enough to attempt only go a short way towards doing the view justice.

<iframe width="640" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/p3gaQBr1FAs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Sadly after an hour of pure exhilaration in the air we had to make our way down due to the winds getting too strong. I wait till last so I could watch where everyone else was heading for the landing. I eventually followed them down to a tiny spit of land next to a river, taking great care to avoid the very strong water and the power lines and trees and other obstacles in my way.

To celebrate and to cool down a little we went to a water park in the canyon.

[![photo-112](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-1121.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151899253741031&set=a.10151899189516031.1073741847.593661030&type=3&theater)

[![photo-113](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-1131.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151899254221031&set=a.10151899189516031.1073741847.593661030&type=3&theater)

I had a phenominal time in Bucaramanga and not just because of the flying. The hostel I stayed at over the two weeks was handily right next to the fly site. It was more of a house than a hostel and had an awesome family atmosphere. Sarita and Sebastian were incredible and made me feel at home at all times.

[![photo-88](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-882.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151899248511031&set=a.10151899189516031.1073741847.593661030&type=3&theater)

The breakfasts Sarita prepared for us in the mornings were incredible and just what we needed before a hard day of flying.

Evenings were usually spent chilling in the flat drinking a beer or two with my fellow pilots or pilots in training.

[![photo-85](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-852.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151899247706031&set=a.10151899189516031.1073741847.593661030&type=3&theater)

[![photo-87](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-872.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151899248176031&set=a.10151899189516031.1073741847.593661030&type=3&theater)

Of of my fellow pilots in training, Reed celebrated his 40th birthday with us in Bucaramanga. I probably cant discuss all the madness of that evening but here are a few of the more tame photos.

[![OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-932.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151899249536031&set=a.10151899189516031.1073741847.593661030&type=3&theater)

[![OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-1002.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151899251061031&set=a.10151899189516031.1073741847.593661030&type=3&theater)

[![OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-972.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151899250361031&set=a.10151899189516031.1073741847.593661030&type=3&theater)

I ended my time in Bucaramanga in perfect fashion. Having a BBQ with my excellent new friends, Eric, Erica and Reed. Thanks guys for making my time here so incredible!

[![photo-117](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-1171.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151899254896031&set=a.10151899189516031.1073741847.593661030&type=3&theater)

![screenshot_01](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/screenshot_01.png)

**Note: This is a condensed version of the pictures I took with some added narrative. The rest of the pics can be viewed in the album [The Trip 2013 - Bogota to Medellin.](https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151848321426031.1073741845.593661030&type=1&l=a4cfae066c) Each picture can be clicked to see a larger version and comment / like.**



Well finally I arrived on the South American continent in early August. I flew in from Panama City to Bogota, the capital of Colombia.

[![photo-58](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-58.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151848384141031&set=a.10151848321426031.1073741845.593661030&type=3&theater)

I stayed at the excellent Masaya hostel in the Candelaria district of the city. Definitely one of the best kept hostels I had stayed at so far.

[![photo](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151848323706031&set=a.10151848321426031.1073741845.593661030&type=3&theater)

I spent the first couple of days simply wandering around the city trying to get a feel for the place and what to expect from Colombia over the next couple of months.

[![photo-6](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-6.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151848329676031&set=a.10151848321426031.1073741845.593661030&type=3&theater)

[![photo-7](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-7.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151848330381031&set=a.10151848321426031.1073741845.593661030&type=3&theater)

To me the city seemed to be a rather dirty and dusty concrete jungle lacking much in the way of any greenery. On thing they did have however is the Bogota Beer Company (BBC) which sold some of the best beer I had had in a while.

[![photo-12](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-12.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151848342421031&set=a.10151848321426031.1073741845.593661030&type=3&theater)

The following day I took a trip to Zipiquiera, a small town about an hour outside of Bogota.

[![photo-18](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-18.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151848344486031&set=a.10151848321426031.1073741845.593661030&type=3&theater)

The main reason for going to Zipiquira is to visit the cathedral which is buried deep in an old salt mine.

[![photo-21](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-21.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151848348161031&set=a.10151848321426031.1073741845.593661030&type=3&theater)

[![photo-27](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-27.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151848353396031&set=a.10151848321426031.1073741845.593661030&type=3&theater)

[![photo-32](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-32.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151848358846031&set=a.10151848321426031.1073741845.593661030&type=3&theater)

I went there with with a new friend, Kaylee, I had made in the hostel.

[![photo-26](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-26.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151848352556031&set=a.10151848321426031.1073741845.593661030&type=3&theater)

It was a pretty impressive place.

[![photo-35](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-35.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151848360591031&set=a.10151848321426031.1073741845.593661030&type=3&theater)

[![photo-24](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-24.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151848350186031&set=a.10151848321426031.1073741845.593661030&type=3&theater)

[![photo-37](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-37.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151848361061031&set=a.10151848321426031.1073741845.593661030&type=3&theater)

Outside of the mine was a large climbing wall that I simply had to have a go on.

[![photo-19](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-19.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151848346956031&set=a.10151848321426031.1073741845.593661030&type=3&theater)

[![photo-42](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-42.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151848365476031&set=a.10151848321426031.1073741845.593661030&type=3&theater)

My final day in Bogota was spent exploring the Fernando Botero museum. He is a rather distinctive artist who depicts people and things really fat

[![photo-48](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-48.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151848373936031&set=a.10151848321426031.1073741845.593661030&type=3&theater)

[![photo-49](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-49.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151848374246031&set=a.10151848321426031.1073741845.593661030&type=3&theater)

The museum wasnt just purely Botero however and hosted a number of other works of art

[![photo-52](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-52.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151848376331031&set=a.10151848321426031.1073741845.593661030&type=3&theater)

[![photo-55](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-55.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151848381611031&set=a.10151848321426031.1073741845.593661030&type=3&theater)

I enjoyed my time in Bogota but after a few days there I was looking forward to moving on.

[![photo-59](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-59.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151848389861031&set=a.10151848321426031.1073741845.593661030&type=3&theater)

Next up was Medellin, the second largest city in Colombia. To get there I took what was supposed to be a 9 hour bus journey. It turned out to be more like 12 thanks to a large landslide that blocked the road for several hours.

On the bus I managed to steal some of the driver's interesting fruit. They were sweet but slimy in texture.

[![photo-60](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-60.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151848391891031&set=a.10151848321426031.1073741845.593661030&type=3&theater)

It was the festival of flowers all week in Medellin which meant flowers, parties and parades such as the car parade I stood on the side of the road and watched go by.

[![photo-64](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-64.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151848409546031&set=a.10151848321426031.1073741845.593661030&type=3&theater)

<iframe width="640" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/H9UbJuxI6NU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I saw yet another person who must have trouble seeing the screen on their tablet.

[![photo-69](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-69.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151848412291031&set=a.10151848321426031.1073741845.593661030&type=3&theater)

Because of the festival we had to visit the botanical gardens.

[![photo-72](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-72.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151848779471031&set=a.10151848321426031.1073741845.593661030&type=3&theater)

There was go much to take pictures of there.

[![photo-76](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-76.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151848424721031&set=a.10151848321426031.1073741845.593661030&type=3&theater)

[![photo-78](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-78.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151848424666031&set=a.10151848321426031.1073741845.593661030&type=3&theater)

[![photo-77](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-77.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151848424811031&set=a.10151848321426031.1073741845.593661030&type=3&theater)

But the real attraction was the special flower exhibit.

[![photo-86](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-86.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151848451016031&set=a.10151848321426031.1073741845.593661030&type=3&theater)

[![photo-89](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-89.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151848457501031&set=a.10151848321426031.1073741845.593661030&type=3&theater)

[![photo-96](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-96.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151848464706031&set=a.10151848321426031.1073741845.593661030&type=3&theater)

The following day I decided to take the cable car up to Santa Domingo.

[![photo-105](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-105.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151848475741031&set=a.10151848321426031.1073741845.593661030&type=3&theater)

For most of my time in Medellin I was with my french friend Claire whom I had met on the bus from Bogota, a nicer person you could not meet!

[![photo-113](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-113.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151848482806031&set=a.10151848321426031.1073741845.593661030&type=3&theater)

I decided to try one of the strange cake / biscuit things I had seen some people eating.

[![photo-112](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-112.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151848481446031&set=a.10151848321426031.1073741845.593661030&type=3&theater)

It was a strange combination of cracker, coconut, white chocolate, cheese.

The final day was spent at the museum in the middle of Medellin.

[![photo-117](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-117.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151848484471031&set=a.10151848321426031.1073741845.593661030&type=3&theater)

[![photo-120](/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/photo-120.jpg)](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151848488361031&set=a.10151848321426031.1073741845.593661030&type=3&theater)

I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Bogota and Medellin but I was looking forward to getting back to the coast and enjoying the sun again :)

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